City of Cambridge Amends Temporary Emergency Restrictions on Public Meetings and Events. Halloween Guidance to be announced the week of October 12

The City of Cambridge today announced that all City-sponsored community events, events permitted for the use of City parks, or other City-sponsored public gatherings will be cancelled through October 26, 2020, or postponed to a later date. All prior approvals for events or gatherings are revoked. The City Manager’s Office is collaborating with the City’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Panel, the Commissioner of Public Health, and the Cambridge Public Health Department to evaluate and determine what Halloween activities will be allowed in the City. Further guidance on Halloween activities in the City to be announced the week of October 12. 

City sponsored youth sports activities that take place in City parks or other City athletic facilities are permitted, subject to obtaining a City permit, and further subject to complying with all COVID-19 requirements and guidelines concerning youth sports issued by the State, which include but are not limited to requirements concerning social distancing, hygiene protocols, staffing and operations, and cleaning and disinfecting.

The meetings of the Board of Zoning Appeal, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission and Neighborhood Conservation Commissions, License Commission, Planning Board, Pole and Conduit Commission, and Election Commission are authorized to be held. Meetings will continue to be held virtually by utilizing web based technology that will stream audio and video – whenever possible -- of the meeting. All meetings will allow for remote participation by the members of the public body. All other public meetings of City committees, advisory groups, community meetings and the like shall remain cancelled and postponed until a later date, unless a meeting is determined necessary by the City.

All meetings of the City Council, including City Council Committee meetings, and all other City public bodies, boards and commissions that are governed by the state Open Meeting Law and transact official City business, other than quasi-judicial public bodies, boards and commissions, will follow the procedures defined in the City’s Amended Temporary Emergency Restriction on City Public Meetings, City Events, and City Permitted Events due to COVID-19, which is available on the City’s website.

Members of the public are reminded that they should maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet from non-household members, and anyone over the age of five must wear a mask or face covering at all times when on or in public places. Public places include sidewalks, streets, parks, plazas, bus stops, non-residential parking lots and garages, and any other outdoor area or non-residential parking facility which is open and accessible to the general public.

The above temporary restrictions will remain in effect until October 26, 2020, or until further modified by the City Manager.

The full Temporary Emergency Restrictions on City Public Meetings, City Events, and City Permitted Events Due to COVID-19 is available here.

For more information and to sign up to receive updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19 .