I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources. Thank you for taking the time to read my updates. Please be patient with us over the next few days we are working on reformatting the newsletter to ensure you are getting the most updated and relevant information in the most visually accessible way. We are also juggling a high volume of constituent services and legislative work, so we are doing our best to dedicate more time to the newsletter updates.
Federal Updates
Vaccines for Every Adult in the US by May
President Biden announced today that there should be sufficient vaccines produced for every adult in the country by the end of May, thanks to a partnership between Merck and Johnson & Johnson. He had previously set a goal for having enough doses by the end of July. Read more here.
MA Vaccination Updates
There are no updates today.
Resources for Booking and Getting to Your Appointment
Phone: Call 2-1-1 between 8:30 AM-8:00 PM Monday-Thursday or 8:30 AM-5:00 PM Friday-Sunday and select the prompt for “help scheduling a vaccine appointment.” This multilingual service is for residents who don’t have Internet access or have trouble using the Internet.
Need help? For detailed information about how to make an appointment, including updates about specific health care providers, see the Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services vaccine resources page. You can also visit macovidvaxhelp.com, which is an unofficial site staffed by volunteers for eligible individuals who are unable to book vaccine appointments on their own.
Need a ride? Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) is offering free transportation for local adults aged 65+ to COVID-19 vaccination sites in Cambridge and Somerville as well as Fenway Park and CHA Malden. For more information, click here. To register for a ride, call SCES at 617-628-2601 or email info@eldercare.org.
The City of Cambridge has published accessibility information for the state’s mass vaccination sites. You can find it here.
Don’t forget to book your second appointment while you’re getting your first dose!
The state has created an interactive dashboard, including the percentage of COVID-19 positive cases and testing rates by city and town. The dashboard can be viewed here.
For Harvard University COVID-19 information, click here.
Testing appointments through the City's free mobile-testing program are available at the following locations:
Monday - 50 Church St. 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday - 50 Church St. 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday - 2254 Massachusetts Ave, St. John the Evangelist Church, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday - CambridgeSide in East Cambridge, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Drive-through testing in garage. Enter on First St.)
Friday - 50 Church St. 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Saturday - Christian Life Center located at 85 Bishop Allen Drive. 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday - CambridgeSide in East Cambridge, 11:00am - 7:00pm (Drive-through testing in garage. Enter on First St.)
You can schedule an appointment online or by calling 617-665-3795.
Cambridge Updates
Cambridge Reopening
An Emergency Order was issued last week by the City prohibiting live musical performances at restaurants until further notice and delaying the opening of indoor performance venues until Monday, March 22, 2021 in light of Governor Baker’s updates to the state’s reopening plan. Other restrictions are lifted according to the state plan. Read more here.
Afterschool Enrichment Programs for Kids
Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui has announced that an outdoor afterschool program will begin the week of March 22, 2021 and run weekly through fall 2021. The Local Parks Program is held from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM Mondays at Sennott Park and from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM Wednesdays at Danehy park. Elevate Youth is accepting applications from families of 4th and 5th graders until capacity is met. For those who are interested, text “CAMBRIDGE” to 857-995-8050 or email Elevate Youth’s program coordinator Cam Regan at cam@elevate-youth.org. Read more here.
Employment Opportunities Through Cambridge Works
Cambridge Works is a transitional jobs program for younger adults who have had difficulty finding a job. This program is ongoing and open to residents, must be age 18-35, without a college degree. The program is meant for those who have experienced difficulty finding jobs for any of the following reasons: limited work experience, a gap in work history, frustration with dead end jobs, or legal or personal issues. For additional information on the Cambridge Works program, click here.
Cambridge Library Services
Contactless holds pickup has resumed at all branches. The winter schedule includes a dedicated hour for seniors and at-risk individuals at the start of each service day at the Main Library. Details are available on the library website at www.cambridgema.gov/cpl. For assistance, call 617-349-4040 or email library@cambridgema.gov.
Translation Resources Available
Multilingual city resources and information on COVID-19 are available on the City's multilingual help page.
State Updates
Massachusetts transitioned to Phase III, Step 2 of the reopening process yesterday, Monday, March 1, 2021. The updates include lifting the capacity limit on restaurants, raising capacity limits across other sectors to 50%, and reopening indoor performance venues and recreational activities at 50% capacity. Read more here. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who is the current Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), warns that "now is not the time" to lift restrictions. Dr. Walensky also served on the Massachusetts COVID-19 Advisory Board.
The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General has announced the FY2022 Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program. Applicants may apply for grants to fund jobs for youth with core health and wellness components while also providing opportunities for professional enrichment. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 5, 2021. To learn more about this opportunity, click here.
Baker Press Conference Updates
Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today. You can watch the Governor's COVID-19 latest updates here.
Where to Give
On Fridays, Cambridge CoHousing will be collecting food either in a paper bag or small box for the Chelsea Food Collaborative. Drop off is between 9 AM and 2:30 PM at the entrance to CoHousing at 175 Richdale Ave, Cambridge, MA. If you don't see someone at the moment you arrive, please leave it just inside the gate where we will have boxes marked "For Chelsea."
If you are able to give to others during this time, I encourage you to look to additional places that are working to help those most affected by COVID-19:
