questions for the City Manager's 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: 3.11.2021 CC: CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL A communication from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting questions from City Councillors regarding the COVID-19 Public Health Update for March 15, 2021.

2 CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING: March 15, 2021 COVID-19 UPDATE QUESTIONS COUNCILLOR NOLAN: 1. Some city staff have been working throughout the pandemic, and some have had some additional work, and some have had curtailed work due to office restrictions and quarantines. Now that the City and Commonwealth are able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, what can we expect for restoration of city services? As an example, the City extended resident parking permits, but the delay hasn’t been explained. Some paid for permits 8 weeks ago and have yet to receive them – hopefully that will be resolved soon. What city services have a backlog and when can we expect operations to be relatively normal? 2. As people return to work, and more commuting, we need people to feel safe using public transit, since the pandemic has led to increased single occupancy vehicle trips, which is detrimental from a number of perspectives. How is the city communicating with the MBTA about the best way to handle the migration of folks back to work? Besides requiring masks, have they been working to gear up their schedules to have more frequent service to avoid crowding? Will they use their T ambassadors to help ensure mask wearing and distancing? Will local companies do anything focused on safe, distanced transportation once they start calling folks back into the office? MAYOR SIDDIQUI: 1. What is the status of CPH reaching homebound individuals with vaccines? 2. As more vaccine supply becomes available with the hope that local municipalities regain more access, how and where would CPH host community vaccination sites? COUNCILLOR TOOMEY: 1. With recent approval and increased production of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, when will we start to see it available in the Cambridge community, and is the lower efficacy rate a concern?