Overview

To protect your health and the health of our community, learn more about the safety measures below. Test positive? Visit our What to do if You Test Positive for COVID-19 page.  

What is COVID-19

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel (or new) coronavirus that emerged in late 2019. Reported illness ranges from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases. Symptoms vary from person to person, and can include fever or chills; cough; fatigue; body aches; headaches; congestion; loss of smell; and others. 

Knowledge about COVID-19 continues to evolve. Visit the websites of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the most up-to-date information.

Get Vaccinated

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are safe, effective, and free. 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 
• Where To Get Vaccinated in Massachusetts
• 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
• COVID-19 Booster Doses: 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 get free at-home tests at local pharmacies through your health insurance plan. Health insurance covers eight at-home tests per month for each person on your plan. Some insurance plans allow you to use your insurance card to pick up tests at a pharmacy for free. Other insurance plans will pay you back if you buy 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 eight 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

Masks help stop the spread of COVID-19. CPHD encourages masking indoors when outside your own home while COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community. 

• CPHD Mask Guidance
  • Choosing the Best Mask for You
  • Shopping for High-Quality Masks

Updated: January 17, 2023