A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a public health update

Public Health Update CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 9, 2023

Epidemiological Nature of COVID-19 Surge ↑ Wastewater (leading indicator) ↑ Cases (when reported) ↑ Hospitalizations ↑ Deaths (lagging indicator) 2

Middlesex COVID-19 Community Level Now at HIGH Anna to add hospital chart to show admissions/threshold for high 3

Middlesex COVID-19 Community Level Now at HIGH What’s Different? CDC recommends: ●High-quality masks indoors in public - for all ●If high risk: avoid non-essential indoor activities ●If in contact with someone at high risk: test before contact, mask when indoors 4

Middlesex COVID-19 Community Level Now at HIGH What stays the same? ●Get vaccinated and boosted ●Test if you have symptoms/exposure ●Stay home if sick ●Ask your provider about treatment ●Reach out if you have COVID and need assistance while isolating: [phone removed] 5

Regional Wastewater - MWRA Northern Region Anna to add this chart - happy to see 2 days of lower numbers! 6

RSV/Flu Update ●RSV positivity & hospitalizations continue to decline regionally and nationally. ●Influenza-like illness (ILI) remain very high but may be plateauing. ●Second flu spike possible based on last year, southern hemisphere experience. ●There’s still time to get your flu shot! 7

CPS COVID Update ●Masks strongly recommended through January 13th, testing prior to return ●25 reported cases the week of January 2, mostly home test results ●For comparison, there were 39 reported cases in the week prior to vacation 8

Testing Update ●Promotion of free rapid tests ●CPHD support for people who test positive: [phone removed] ●Shift in testing strategy due to decreased need of PCR testing ●Ability to deploy mobile PCR testing if needed 9

Testing Update ●60,000+ rapid tests/masks received Friday ●Tests will be available daily at CPHD, other sites TBD ●Broader distribution before/after school vacations, holidays ●Continued provision of tests to Cambridge Housing Authority, shelters, child care, community partners 10