Cambridge Public Health Update & Correction - COVID-19 Rapid Testing Pilot Program in Cambridge

Reporting Errors in April 13 Media Release:

Due to a calculation error, the Cambridge case counts reported for April 12 reflected an over count. The Cambridge Public Health Department has since reconciled the discrepancy in positive case counts among Cambridge residents (in non-institutional settings) and newly reported cases in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.

The correct case count data, as of April 13 at 6:30 p.m., is:

• 256 Cambridge residents who live in a non-institutional setting (i.e., care facility) have tested positive for COVID-19, including one person who died from the disease.
• 203 people who live or work in Cambridge skilled nursing and assisted living facilities have tested positive for COVID-19, including six individuals who have died from COVID-19. 

COVID-19 Deaths Announced at Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Facilities in Cambridge:

On April 13, the Cambridge Public Health Department announced that six people who lived or worked at skilled nursing or assisted living facilities in the city had died of complications from COVID-19. 

"I am deeply saddened to report these deaths, and extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of these individuals," said Claude A. Jacob, the city’s Chief Public Health Officer and Director of the Cambridge Public Health Department.  "We know that older adults are at much greater risk for serious illness from COVID-19. That's why we are currently undertaking surveillance testing at our seven skilled nursing and assisted living facilities so that we can rapidly identify positive cases and break the chain of transmission in these facilities."

Additional Information:

What is the current number of positive COVID-19 cases among people who live and work at these Cambridge facilities?

As of April 13 at 6:30 p.m., 203 individuals who live and work at the Cambridge facilities had tested positive for COVID-19. 

What percentage of residents at Cambridge skilled nursing and assisted living facilities tested positive? 

We cannot provide that information yet because not all of the tests results have come back. A total of about 1,500 people who live and work at the seven facilities in Cambridge are being tested. As of 6 p.m. on April 13, the Cambridge Public Health Department had received first round tests results for about 950 individuals. 

Will you break out the positive tests for nursing homes and assisted living facilities?

At this time, the Cambridge Public Health Department is not planning to share data by facility type. 

Is a breakdown available of the number of positive cases at each of the seven facilities?

No. We will provide case data in the aggregate only.

Were the cases reported this morning (April 13)  discovered in the first round of testing over the weekend?

Yes. There were 200 (corrected number) cases reported over the weekend from the first round of testing. It is expected that there will be additional positive findings from the first round of testing as more results are analyzed.

When will the second round of testing take place?

The Broad Institute plans on conducting a second round of testing at the end of this week.

Of the 200 cases confirmed over the weekend, were there any hospitalizations? Any word on many people who tested positive are experiencing severe symptoms?

We don’t have this information.

What are the next steps to protect patients/residents and workers?

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health was alerted about the test results. The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) is working with the facilities to provide guidance on “cohorting” patients, which means putting those who have tested positive together and those who have tested negative together and apart from the positive cases. CPHD is also providing strategies for crisis staffing as guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).