Omicron Cases Have Peaked in Cambridge; Residents Urged to Continue to Take Precautions to Slow the Spread

In Massachusetts, the “Omicron surge” peaked in early January, a few weeks earlier than had been predicted.  Based on wastewater samples collected from Cambridge, Boston, and surrounding communities, the peak of Omicron infections occurred on January 5.

There was a similar downward trend in the case data, with the 7-day average of new infections in Cambridge and the state peaking on January 8.  Since then, infection rates in Cambridge have fallen by over 60%.

In other good news, COVID-19 hospitalizations in Massachusetts leveled off in mid-January after a steep upward climb that began in November.

“Clearly we’re in a much better place than two weeks ago, but we are not out of the woods yet,” said Derrick Neal, the City’s Chief Public Health Officer and director of the Cambridge Public Health Department. “COVID-19 is still spreading in the community and it may take some weeks before infection rates go down to safer levels.”

The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) strongly recommends that residents:

• Get vaccinated and boosted. Omicron’s rapid spread is believed to be a combination of increased transmissibility and the variant’s ability to evade immunity from vaccination or prior infection. Booster vaccines restore much of the vaccine’s protection against infection, as well as serious illness.
• Wear a high-quality mask. Cloth masks do not provide an adequate level of protection.  High-quality masks are especially important for individuals who work directly with the public.
• Reconsider indoor social gatherings. If you do gather indoors with friends or family, everyone should mask up, especially around people who are at high risk or unvaccinated.
• Seek testing if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or if you have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.
• Follow isolation and quarantine guidance from CPHD and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The Cambridge Public Health Department has reported eight deaths among city residents in December and January, which include two people in their 50s and six people in their 70s or older.

“Our hearts go out to the families of these individuals,” said Mr. Neal. “We urge residents to continue to take precautions to protect their loved ones and our most vulnerable community members.”

The highly contagious Omicron variant caused steep increase in COVID-19 infections this winter. Over 9,000 Cambridge residents tested positive for the virus between December 1 and January 24.