Overview
To protect your health and the health of our community, learn more about the safety measures below. Visit our COVID-19 page to learn more about the virus and symptoms. Test positive? Visit our What to Do if You Test Positive for COVID-19 page.
Get Vaccinated
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your family. Vaccines are recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older. You don’t need identification or insurance to get a vaccine, and the shots are widely available in Cambridge.
- City of Cambridge Vaccine Information
- Vaccine Clinics at the CPHD
- Find a COVID-19 Vaccine Near You
- COVID-19 in-Home Vaccination Program in Massachusetts
- To get a new vaccine card, visit the state’s Access My Vaccination Records
- COVID-19 Vaccine: Frequently Asked Questions
Get Tested
Testing lets you know if you have COVID-19 and should get medical treatment for yourself and/or take measures to protect other people.
At-Home Tests
- You can order at-home tests for free through the federal government. The tests are delivered through the mail. Each order includes four tests. You do not need to enter any health insurance information.
- You can purchase tests at local retailers and pharmacies.
Videos on How to Use At-Home Tests
Each brand has different instructions, so be sure to follow the instructions in your test packet. Below are videos that show some general instructions and a few brand specific directions on at-home tests.
- Abbott: A Guide for the BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Self Test
- iHealth: How to Use the iHealth Antigen Rapid Test
- Boston Public Schools: iHealth Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test Tutorial. Translated subtitles: Arabic | Chinese | Cape Verdean Creole | Haitian Creole | Spanish | Portuguese
- CDC: How To Use a Self-Test | Spanish
- Mass General Hospital: Doing COVID-19 Testing at Home | Spanish
Mask Up
While masks are no longer required in most settings, many people continue to mask up indoors and on public transportation. CPHD strongly supports this practice, especially when the virus is widely circulating in the community or if you are at high risk for serious illness.
When masking up indoors, CPHD recommends wearing high-quality disposable masks. These masks, also known as “high-filtration” masks, do a much better job of blocking the virus than cloth or even surgical masks.
Updated: September 21, 2023