COVID-19 cases in the City of Cambridge as reported by the Cambridge Public Health Department. This dataset summarizes cases by age cohort and gender.
Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) data regarding case counts come directly from MDPH and their surveillance system (MAVEN). We use the language and terminology per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, and recent guidance categorizes all confirmed or presumptive positive cases as positive. CPHD understands that case counts may be higher, due to a number of factors:

(1) Testing capabilities have been increased by other area lab organizations and hospitals and not all of the test results are reported to MDPH or CPHD.

(2) People may be asymptomatic (or have very mild symptoms) and do not realize that they may have COVID-19 and need to be tested.

(3) Providers may be offering diagnoses based on symptoms and history (rather than testing) and telling patients that they are likely positive and should stay home and self-quarantine for 14 days. (e.g, Someone might call their provider with a few symptoms and indicate that they were with someone from Biogen. In this case, the doctor may assume positive for COVID-19 and ask the patient to self-isolate at home for two weeks).

This is the process that the CPHD, and all local health departments, is following.

Total positive cases include total deaths. Any count <5 will be suppressed for privacy reasons

In November 2020, the City of Cambridge began collecting and analyzing COVID-19 data from municipal wastewater, which can serve as an early indicator of increased COVID-19 infections in the city. The Cambridge Public Health Department and Cambridge Department of Public Works are using technology developed by Biobot, a Cambridge based company, and partnering with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). This Cambridge wastewater surveillance initiative is funded through a $175,000 appropriation from the Cambridge City Council.

This dataset indicates the presence of the COVID-19 virus (measured as viral RNA particles from the novel coronavirus per ml) in municipal wastewater. The Cambridge site data here were collected as a 24-hour composite sample, which is taken weekly. The MWRA site data ere were collected as a 24-hour composite sample, which is taken daily. MWRA and Cambridge data are listed here in a single table.

An interactive graph of this data is available here: https://cityofcambridge.shinyapps.io/COVID19/?tab=wastewater

All areas within the City of Cambridge are captured across four separate catchment areas (or sewersheds) as indicated on the map viewable here: https://cityofcambridge.shinyapps.io/COVID19/_w_484790f7/BioBot_Sites.png. The North and West Cambridge sample also includes nearly all of Belmont and very small areas of Arlington and Somerville (light yellow). The remaining collection sites are entirely -- or almost entirely -- drawn from Cambridge households and workplaces.

Data are corrected for wastewater flow rate, which adjusts for population in general. Data listed are expected to reflect the burden of COVID-19 infections within each of the four sewersheds. A lag of approximately 4-7 days will occur before new transmissions captured in wastewater data would result in a positive PCR test for COVID-19, the most common testing method used. While this wastewater surveillance tool can provide an early indication of major changes in transmission within the community, it remains an emerging technology. In assessing community transmission, wastewater surveillance data should only be considered in conjunction with other clinical measures, such as current infection rates and test positivity.

Each location is selected because it reflects input from a distinct catchment area (or sewershed) as identified on the color-coded map. Viral data collected from small catchment areas like these four Cambridge sites are more variable than data collected from central collection points (e.g., the MWRA facility on Deer Island) where wastewater from dozens of communities are joined and mixed. Data from each catchment area will be impacted by daily activity among individuals living in that area (e.g., working from home vs. traveling to work) and by daytime activities that are not from residences (businesses, schools, etc.) As such, the Regional MWRA data provides a more stable measure of regional viral counts. COVID wastewater data for Boston North and Boston South regions is available at https://www.mwra.com/biobot/biobotdata.htm

The data represented in this graph are dynamic and may change over time.

Since March 20, the Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) has provided data regarding COVID-19 case counts based on the date that the Massachusetts Public Health Department (MDPH) reported the case to CPHD (known as report date).

Beginning March 31, 2020, CPHD began providing COVID-19 case counts based on the onset time -- the date of a positive diagnosis -- which is preferable for studying disease patterns over time. Both sets of data provide the same number of total cases. CPHD often receives onset time (positive COVID-19 diagnosis) after the report date. Thus, the graph displaying onset time is recommended as a representation of the case counts per day.

Daily case counts reflect the total number of cases to date, including active and recovered individuals.

This dataset shows positive COVID-19 Cases in Cambridge by neighborhood. It is reported to Cambridge by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts once per day. Of Note:

Population data are from Cambridge Community Development, and are sourced from the 2013-2017 American Community Survey estimates, and may differ from actual population counts.

Cases for which the home address is missing, misspelled, or incorrect (i.e., not an actual Cambridge address) may not be represented on the maps. For these reasons, the total case count reflected in the maps is lower than the current case count for the city.

The maps reflect the time period of March 10, 2020 (first known positive case) through present. Cases are not removed from the maps when a resident recovers or passes away.
The maps do not include COVID-19 cases among Cambridge residents in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.

Data are updated once per day. Case counts are subject to change.

The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) is using a tool called “geocoder,” developed by the City’s Information Technology Department, to assign the home addresses of cases to one of the city’s 13 neighborhoods. The geocoder tries to match each case address to the City's official address list. Cambridge's geocoder is run locally and off-network to ensure health data privacy.

To learn more about the demographics of the city’s neighborhoods, see City of Cambridge Neighborhood Statistical Profile 2019.

COVID-19 cases for residents in the City of Cambridge community outside of long term care facilities, as reported by the Cambridge Public Health Department. This dataset summarizes cases by age cohort and gender.
Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) data regarding case counts come directly from MDPH and their surveillance system (MAVEN). We use the language and terminology per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, and recent guidance categorizes all confirmed or presumptive positive cases as positive. CPHD understands that case counts may be higher, due to a number of factors:

(1) Testing capabilities have been increased by other area lab organizations and hospitals and not all of the test results are reported to MDPH or CPHD.

(2) People may be asymptomatic (or have very mild symptoms) and do not realize that they may have COVID-19 and need to be tested.

(3) Providers may be offering diagnoses based on symptoms and history (rather than testing) and telling patients that they are likely positive and should stay home and self-quarantine for 14 days. (e.g, Someone might call their provider with a few symptoms and indicate that they were with someone from Biogen. In this case, the doctor may assume positive for COVID-19 and ask the patient to self-isolate at home for two weeks).

This is the process that the CPHD, and all local health departments, is following.

Total positive cases include total deaths. Any count <5 will be suppressed for privacy reasons

This dataset contains weekly totals of COVID-19 cases among Cambridge residents by age group.

Of note:

The graphs do not include COVID-19 cases among Cambridge residents living in skilled nursing or assisted living facilities.

The case counts comprise confirmed cases and two types of probable cases: (1) people who receive a positive antigen test and (2) people who are a known contact of a confirmed case and have received a clinical diagnosis based on their symptoms. The case counts do not include antibody positive cases.

Cases are assigned to a given week based on the date of symptom onset. If that information is not available, the date reflects the test date (if available), or the report date (when a laboratory reports results to the state health department).

Dates on the line graphs reflect the start date of the week. For instance, June 7 represents the week of June 7-13.

Counts for the most recent week are incomplete. Case counts for individual weeks going back in time may change as more information becomes available.

The table reflects COVID-19 cases among city residents who are students, staff, or faculty at the five higher education institutions in Cambridge: Harvard University, Hult International Business School, Lesley University, Longy School of Music, and MIT.

Of note:

The case total for each institution reflects combined cases for students, staff, and faculty who reside in Cambridge. These cases are included in the City's case total.
The case totals are cumulative from mid-August to present.

To protect individual privacy, institutions with at least one case but fewer than five, are reported as 1-4. Institutions with zero cases are reported as 0.

*Harvard University and *MIT provide information about COVID-19 screenings for their campus communities, including number of tests completed, number of positive cases, and positive test rate.

The case totals reported by Harvard and MIT differ from those reported in the table because the university totals include students and employees who do not live in Cambridge.

This table shows the total number of positive and negative COVID-19 test results for Cambridge residents by week. A small number of tests are inconclusive, and they are not represented.

The table reflects three types of COVID-19 tests:

Viral (PCR) test, also known as a molecular test. This test is used to diagnose an active coronavirus infection.

Antigen test, also known as a rapid test. This test is used to diagnose an active coronavirus infection, with a faster turnaround time than PCR tests but more likely to return a false negative.

Antibody test, also known as a serology test. This test can show if you have been infected by coronavirus in the past. Some people develop antibodies while they are still infectious. If you have symptoms, please seek viral (PCR) testing to confirm active infection.
Of note:

Dates on the chart reflect results from tests performed during the current week. For instance, the June 7 count reflects results for tests performed from June 7-13. Counts for the most recent week are likely to be incomplete because data is received mid-week.
The chart is updated every Thursday at 4 p.m.

This table shows selected demographic information for Cambridge residents living in skilled nursing or assisted living facilities who are classified as confirmed, probable, or suspect cases (see “Case Count by Classification” section for definitions). Demographic information includes gender, age range, and race/ethnicity.

About the COVID-19 Rapid Testing Program: On April 9, the Broad Institute, in partnership with the City of Cambridge and Pro EMS, launched a surveillance testing pilot program in Cambridge skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. The goal of the program is to gain an accurate picture of the true infection rate in these facilities by testing all residents and workers regardless of whether they have symptoms or feel ill. Positive cases among facility residents reflect three rounds of testing in April and May of all residents at the seven skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in Cambridge, as well as other testing ordered by medical providers.

Of note:

The case count includes those who have recovered, are currently sick with COVID-19, and who have died from complications of the disease. Any category with a case count less than five is omitted to protect individual privacy.
The Cambridge case count reflects current data received from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

It is important to note that race and ethnicity data are collected and reported by multiple entities and may or may not reflect self-reporting by the individual case. The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) is actively reaching out to cases to collect this information. Due to these efforts, race and ethnicity information have been confirmed for over 80% of Cambridge cases, as of June 2020.
Race/Ethnicity Category Definitions:
“White” indicates “White, not of Hispanic origin.”
“Black” indicates “Black, not of Hispanic origin.”
“Hispanic” refers to a person having Hispanic origin. A person having Hispanic origin may be of any race.
“Asian” indicates “Asian, not of Hispanic origin.”
"Unknown" indicates that the originating reporter or reporting system did not capture race and ethnicity information or the individual refused to provide the information.
"Other" indicates multiple races, another race that is not listed above, and cases who have reported nationality in lieu of a race category recognized by the US Census. Population data are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2014–2018 American Community Survey estimates and may differ from actual population counts. "Other" also includes a small number of people who identify as Native American or Native Hawaiian/Pacific islander. Because the count for Native Americans or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders is currently < 5 people, these categories have been combined with “Other” to protect individual privacy.

The table is updated daily at 4 p.m.

**Living in a facility is defined as a Cambridge resident who lives in a skilled nursing or assisted living facility.

^Positive cases among facility residents reflect three rounds of testing in April and May of all residents at the seven skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in Cambridge, as well as other testing ordered by medical providers.

This table displays the number of COVID-19 deaths among Cambridge residents by race and ethnicity. The count reflects total deaths among Cambridge COVID-19 cases.

The rate column shows the rate of COVID-19 deaths among Cambridge residents by race and ethnicity. The rates in this chart were calculated by dividing the total number of deaths among Cambridge COVID-19 cases for each racial or ethnic category by the total number of Cambridge residents in that racial or ethnic category, and multiplying by 10,000. The rates are considered “crude rates” because they are not age-adjusted. Population data are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2014–2018 American Community Survey estimates and may differ from actual population counts.

Of note:

This chart reflects the time period of March 25 (first known Cambridge death) through present.

It is important to note that race and ethnicity data are collected and reported by multiple entities and may or may not reflect self-reporting by the individual case. The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) is actively reaching out to cases to collect this information. Due to these efforts, race and ethnicity information have been confirmed for over 80% of Cambridge cases, as of June 2020.

Race/Ethnicity Category Definitions:
“White” indicates “White, not of Hispanic origin.”
“Black” indicates “Black, not of Hispanic origin.”
“Hispanic” refers to a person having Hispanic origin. A person having Hispanic origin may be of any race.
“Asian” indicates “Asian, not of Hispanic origin.”
To protect individual privacy, a category is suppressed when it has one to four people. Categories with zero cases are reported as zero.
"Other" indicates multiple races, another race that is not listed above, and cases who have reported nationality in lieu of a race category recognized by the US Census. Population data are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2014–2018 American Community Survey estimates and may differ from actual population counts. "Other" also includes a small number of people who identify as Native American or Native Hawaiian/Pacific islander. Because the count for Native Americans or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders is currently < 5 people, these categories have been combined with “Other” to protect individual privacy.