City of Cambridge Extends Restrictions on Public Events and Announces Temporary Suspension of In-Person Appointments.

 The City of Cambridge announced today that it is extending the current prohibition on City-sponsored community events, events permitted for the use of City parks, or other City-sponsored public gatherings through March 31, 2021. The City has not permitted events or gatherings through its special events process since March 16, 2020 and is continuing this prohibition as part of its overall COVID-19 prevention strategies. Additionally, to ensure the safety of the public and City staff, in-person appointments at City buildings, including contactless holds pick-up at the Cambridge Public Library, will be suspended from Saturday, January 2, 2021, through Monday, January 18, 2021.

Most City services can be accessed online or over the telephone. While City buildings will remain closed to the public, City offices will remain open. A complete listing of City departments and contact information can be found on our City departments and offices webpage at www.cambridgema.gov/hours.

“With a post-holiday surge in COVID-19 cases expected in the Commonwealth, we are temporarily suspending in-person appointments at City buildings,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “After conferring with the City’s Chief Public Health Officer, this is a prudent step for the City to take to protect the health and wellbeing of both our staff and the public. I strongly urge the public to remain vigilant in adhering to the basic public health best practices.”

Members of the public are reminded that they should maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet from non-household members, practice good hand hygiene, and wear a mask or face covering at all times when on or in all public places, businesses, and common areas of residential buildings.

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

General New Year’s Eve and Day Reminders

The safest way to celebrate New Year's Eve and New Year's Day is with people in your immediate household, while planning virtual celebrations with others. If you decide to have an indoor gathering, it’s important to remember that many people are asymptomatic with COVID-19 — that is, they may not realize that they have COVID-19 because they don’t have any symptoms. But, they can still spread the disease. Getting together indoors puts everyone at greater risk for coronavirus infection.
Massachusetts indoor gatherings are currently limited to 10 individuals and outdoor gatherings to both private homes and event venues, and public spaces are limited to 25 individuals. All gathering must end and disperse by 9:30 p.m. Here are some tips to make your get-together safer:

• Keep visits short. 
• Practice basic safety measures. Wear masks when not eating (and have extras on hand). Encourage frequent hand washing. Be mindful of physical distancing and remind others to stay 6 feet apart. 
• Improve ventilation by opening windows and doors.  

If you are hosting a meal:

• Encourage guests to bring their own food and drinks for their household. Do not share utensils, and avoid buffets and other self-service food or drink options.
• Seat people with plenty of space from one another, possibly in multiple rooms rather than a large shared table.
• Before the event, limit contact with others and leave your home only for essentials for 14 days before your holiday gathering OR obtain a molecular (PCR) COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the celebration. 

After an event, wait 4-5 days to get tested so the test has a better chance of detecting any coronavirus infection. While you wait, limit contact with others and leave your home only for essentials.

The City of Cambridge offers free COVID-19 testing for Cambridge residents seven days a week. The PCR tests are anterior nasal swab tests and not the nasopharyngeal swab test that go all the way back in the nasal passages. No identification or Social Security number is required. All sites are wheelchair accessible. While appointments are not required, residents are strongly urged to book an appointment in advance at www.cambridgema.gov/testing.

There will be an additional testing site on Monday, January 4. In addition to testing at 50 Church Street in Harvard Square, there will be testing at CambridgeSide (vehicle entrance located at 88 First Street), from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Note: The CambridgeSide location is a drive-through testing site in the parking garage. For safety reasons, this site cannot accommodate anyone arriving by bicycle or on foot.

For more information and to sign up to receive daily updates from the City, please visit: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19.