questions for the COVID-19 Update

1 OFFICE OF THE MAYOR Sumbul Siddiqui Mayor TO: LOUIS A. DEPASQUALE, CITY MANAGER FROM: SUMBUL SIDDIQUI, MAYOR SUBJECT: COVID-19 UPDATE: QUESTIONS DATE: 2.18.2021 CC: CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL A communication from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting questions from City Councillors regarding the COVID-19 Public Health Update for February 22, 2021.

2 CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING: February 22, 2021 COVID-19 UPDATE QUESTIONS VICE MAYOR MALLON: 1. This week the Governor advised that vaccines will be available to eligible phase 2 group 2 residents, low income seniors among them. Can CPH please give an update on partnership with CHA, how many low-income seniors have been vaccinated through this program? Will CPH/CHA be able to continue the onsite administering of vaccines with this new phase, or will low in come seniors be expected to go to a large mass vaccination site? For the previous round with CHA, did we go door-to-door in larger buildings to provide vaccines? 2. Schools are welcoming back 4-12th grade on March 1st. What will be the onsite testing protocol for students? Pooled or individual testing? Weekly? How will it work? 3. Regarding school staff testing, what are the take up rates by school? Are we seeing LOWER take up rates by certain schools? If so, in those schools can modifications be made to staff testing protocols to make it more accessible, especially as we expand in person learning across our school buildings? COUNCILLOR NOLAN: 1. Before we know it, the spring will be here – and even with vaccinations proceeding, the pandemic will still be with us and indoor capacities limited. Our restaurants and retail and other businesses will be wanting to be open as fully as possible and have outdoor seating available. What are the plans to ensure that these re-openings are able to happen as quickly and smoothly as possible? For example, if licenses are needed for patio heaters, or any other type of license, will those be available online, at no cost? 2. When/if we get more doses of the vaccine, getting shots into arms as quickly as possible is a goal. The state has allowed companions of elderly to be vaccinated. Does CHA, and if not, why not? COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN 1. Can we get an update on how the vaccinations are going in the unhoused community, including those not in shelters? 2. How will the increased vaccines we are getting from the State be used? MAYOR SIDDIQUI: 1. Since the beginning of the pandemic, black and brown people have been hardest hit by COVID-19, making vaccination imperative for those communities. Can CPH share the current tracking vaccination

3 by race and ethnicity, tell us what those numbers are looking like, and how this data is being used to inform outreach and vaccine distribution? 2. What are the goals of the CPH survey due Feb 26? How is outreach for completing the survey being conducted? 3. What efforts are being made to vaccinate seniors who may have a section 8 voucher but do not live in Cambridge Public Housing buildings? COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER: 1. The Governor has said the state government is “asking cities and towns to play the lead role in vaccine delivery for homebound and hard-to-reach seniors and individuals.” Could you talk more about Cambridge’s efforts to ensure that those residents get the vaccine, including those that are newly eligible? 2. What does the Governor’s announcement that “the delivery of first doses to municipal clinics will be discontinued” mean for the City’s vaccination efforts? COUNCILLOR TOOMEY 1. Are there any planned vaccination events/ clinics specifically for low income and affordable senior housing residents?