City of Cambridge to Lift Remaining COVID-19 Restrictions Along with the Commonwealth
on Saturday, May 29, 2021; Eviction Moratorium to End on June 15, 2021
May 21, 2021 – The City of Cambridge today announced that, with the Commonwealth’s State of Emergency ending on June 15, 2021, and the significant improvements in public health metrics, it will align with the Commonwealth in lifting the City’s remaining COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday, May 29, 2021 and will rescind its March 19, 2020 Declaration of Public Health Emergency in Cambridge effective June 15, 2021. Due to the rescission of the City’s Declaration of Public Health Emergency, the City’s Temporary Eviction Moratorium as amended on July 23, 2020 will also be rescinded, effective June 15, 2021.
“Our data driven interventions were designed to get us to this point of turning a corner on the pandemic and beginning to establish a new normal,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “Cambridge’s 7-day moving average of cases per 100,000 residents is currently under 3 cases. Our percent positivity for COVID-19 tests is 0.11%, and 68% of our residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine. These numbers reflect the hard work that we have collectively engaged in over the past year. I want to thank our residents and businesses for their sacrifices and our staff for their dedication. I look forward to our community moving forward safely and furthering its recovery from the impacts of this global pandemic.”
“Cambridge residents have demonstrated their resilience over the past 15 months of this pandemic, and our low case rate together with strong vaccination rates is testament to that. I am pleased that we are able to celebrate this milestone as we move forward. I urge everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated, and remind residents that they may still wear a mask if they choose,” said Claude A. Jacob, Chief Public Health Officer.
Effective May 29, the City of Cambridge will follow the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s new face-covering advisory consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated guidance, and will not require the use of face masks in Cambridge. However, residents are encouraged to follow the Massachusetts and CDC recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated people, and businesses are reminded that they may continue to require the use of face masks inside their establishments if they wish.
“While I am delighted that Cambridge’s vaccination rates are high and that our case numbers continue to decline, we must remain vigilant. I strongly recommend that unvaccinated youth continue wearing masks when participating in sports and when outdoors and unable to be at least 6′ apart from one another. This important mitigation practice should be continued at least until the public health emergency is lifted on June 15, and I ask that all parents, caregivers, coaches, and teachers encourage unvaccinated youth to continue wearing masks until that time,” said Assaad J. Sayah, M.D., Commissioner of Public Health.
All residents are encouraged to get vaccinated and are reminded that the City of Cambridge provides free COVID-19 testing at various sites across the city. Appointments and additional information about the testing program are available at www.cambridgema.gov/testing.
For more information and regular COVID-19 updates, visit www.cambridgema.gov/covid19 to sign up for daily City email updates.