A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update

The Public Health Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Cambridge COVID-19 WEEKLY REPORT CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 7, 2020

Massachusetts Cities Comparison *14-day period reflects 11/8/20-11/21/20 (Nov. 27 Report) and 11/15/20-11/28/20 (Dec. 3 Report) Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health Weekly COVID-19 Data Reports City/Town Average Daily Incident Rate per 100,000 (14 days*) November 27 Report December 3 Report Boston 33.9 31.7 Cambridge 22.6 18.9 Lowell 80.7 78.3 Newton 15.3 20.2 Somerville 35.2 35.4 Springfield 63.4 64.9 Worcester 47.7 47.4 State 34.9 35.7

Thanksgiving Surge? • Throughout November, Cambridge experienced a sharp uptick in cases. • Positive cases increased from 165 in October to 672 in November, a 320% increase and the city’s highest monthly case total since the pandemic began. • Reflecting statewide trends, Cambridge experienced a dip in cases the week prior to Thanksgiving, but since Nov. 30, cases are back on an upward trajectory. Cambridge New Cases

Current Snapshot • 2,434 confirmed, probable, and suspect cases1 ○2,138 in the community ○275 in nursing homes and assisted living ○100 deaths • 1,366 recoveries; 585 active cases1 • Average daily incidence rate of confirmed cases in last 7 days2: 26.9 per 100,000 residents 1 Data current as of Dec. 7, 2020, 11:30 a.m. 2 7-day period reflects 11/30/20 - 12/6/20.

Case Investigation 585 actives cases: • 20% assigned to CPHD • 25% → Harvard & MIT • 55% → MA Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC) Due to the late fall surge, ~25% of all Cambridge cases are active The Process: ● Typical interview with case/contact: 45 minutes to 3 hours ● Number of questions asked: ~ 75-80 questions ● Goal: As volume of cases increases, it remains critical to try to identify source/place of exposure.

COVID-19 Community Testing 358,330 Tests since March 21 | 47,036 Tests in past 14 days2 Tests administered to Cambridge residents at any health care or city site. • Testing offered 7 days a week, starting Nov. 9. • Sites in East Cambridge, Harvard Square, North Cambridge, and The Port. • 40,353 tests administered since April. ○4,725 from Dec 1 - Dec 6 ○Additional site added Nov. 23 and Nov. 30 to accommodate increased demand. ALL TESTING SITES CITY-FUNDED TESTING PROGRAM 1Testing period March 2-Nov. 28, 2020; 2Testing period Nov 15-28, 2020.

COVID-19 Community Testing

Additional “Hot Spot” Testing CPHD will provide on-site testing at Fresh Pond Apartments (Rindge Towers): • Working with ProEMS and Cambridge Fire Department on dates and times (likely to begin next week). • Cambridge Community Corps will go door-to-door in advance to let residents know and encourage testing (as they did in the Port neighborhood last week and over the weekend). • No appointments necessary; testing will be for Towers residents only.

University Update: Spring 2021 Harvard University: • Classes will be taught remotely;< 50% of undergraduates invited to live on campus (approx. 3,000 students) • No more than 1 student/dorm room • Specific housing set for isolation and quarantine • Resident staff and students tested every 3 days • No spring break MIT: • Freshman, sophomores, and juniors invited to return • Graduate students and research continue as in the fall • No spring break • No winter athletic activities

Cambridge Wastewater Sampling Sites

COVID-19 Testing in K-12 Schools CPS staff are being tested twice a week, on a voluntary basis, as part of a CPHD surveillance program. Testing is also offered to symptomatic students who become ill at school. 6,833 Tests Tests administered to CPS staff through the voluntary testing program since Oct. 15 (as of Dec. 7) 6X Median number of times a CPS staff member has gotten tested through the program since Oct. 15 Data reflect Oct. 15- Dec. 7 1,050 Staff Tested Total # of CPS staff who have been tested through the voluntary testing program since Oct. 15 73 students Symptomatic CPS students who have been tested through the program since Oct. 15

Cambridge Public Schools Metrics December 6, 2020 Metrics that exceed recommended thresholds are displayed as orange 0.77% Percentage of positive COVID-19 tests among Cambridge residents in last 14 days ending Nov. 28. Threshold: <5% of COVID-19 tests among residents are positive. Below Threshold 26.9 7-day average of new confirmed cases per day, per 100,000 people in Cambridge, ending Dec. 5. Threshold: < 25 new confirmed cases per day, per 100,000 people (7- day average) Above Threshold 658.5 Level of COVID-19 found in sewage wastewater in MWRA, as of 12/3/20. Threshold: COVID-19 in wastewater detected at less than 100 copies viral genomes/mL Above Threshold

COVID-19 Vaccine Update The CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Playbook outlines three phases for vaccine distribution: Phase 1: Potentially limited supply of vaccine doses • Dec. 1: CDC officially adopts ACIP recommendations for vaccination distribution to "highest priority" populations: 21 million health-care workers and 3 million residents/staff of LTCs. • Dec 7: Commonwealth's COVID-19 vaccine order submitted to CDC: • CDC expected to send 300,000 doses by end of December (first dose of a two-dose regimen) • Includes 59,475 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for first shipment Phase 2: Large number of vaccine doses available Phase 3: Sufficient/surplus supply of vaccine doses for entire population