COVID-19 Information and Resources
Be sure to sign up for City alerts via all methods you can receive: phone, text, and email.
Call 311 (617-666-3311) for assistance with your alert subscriptions.
COVID-19 vaccinations are open to everyone in Massachusetts 6 months of age and older. Learn more
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The City of Somerville continues to work with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and other state, regional, and community partners during the “new normal” phase on the coronavirus response.
COVID-19 Data
- For statewide data, refer to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
- For case counts and other data about COVID-19 across the United States and around the world, refer to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
COVID-19 Symptoms
People with COVID-19 can experience a wide range of symptoms, and some don’t experience any symptoms at all. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Monitor yourself for these symptoms or check them using an online tool:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- New loss of taste or smell
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms and may evolve. Please seek medical attention immediately if you are experiencing these emergency warning signs:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or difficulty waking
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds
Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility if you have a medical emergency. Notify the operator that you may have COVID-19. If possible, put on a mask before medical help arrives.
Keeping up-to-date on COVID-19
- Sign up for City alerts or check your subscription to be sure you are signed up to receive alerts via all available methods: phone, email, texts. Call 311 if you need assistance subscribing.
- Sign up for real-time alerts from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by texting COVIDMA to 888 777 or COVIDMAESP to 888-777 for alerts in Spanish. State and public health officials will send short messages and links to information directly to your mobile device.
Here are the best steps you can take to protect yourself, your family, and your community:
- Get vaccinated and boosted. Vaccination is the best defense against COVID-19, and a booster shot will help you maintain a high level of protection. Anyone 5 or older can get a free vaccine, regardless of health insurance or immigration status.
- Get tested. Get tested if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, if you were recently exposed to someone who has symptoms, and before and after you travel or attend a gathering.
- Wear a mask. Wear a mask in public, even if you are vaccinated, to protect yourself and people around you. Choose a higher-grade mask if possible, like a KN95 or KF94, or layer two masks.
- Stay home when sick. Avoid contact with others, even if even if you're experiencing only mild symptoms.
Your Rights If You Get Sick
Most employees can use up to 40 hours of job-protected sick leave per year to take care of themselves and certain family members under the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law. Learn more about employee rights and employer obligations.
You also have rights as an employee to a safe workplace. If you are concerned about the safety of your workplace during COVID-19, file a complaint online with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s.
- Concerns you can address in your complaint include but are not limited to:
- Cleaning/disinfection
- Hygiene
- Failure to display Compliance Attestation poster
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Requiring symptomatic employees to work
- Retaliation
- Social distancing
The Attorney General’s Office has also published Frequently Asked Questions in multiple languages regarding the rights of workers and employers during COVID-19.
Masks & Face Coverings
Where do I need to wear a mask in Somerville?
Masks are no longer required in most places in Somerville and Massachusetts, although businesses can ask customers to wear masks in their establishments. These rules may also change during surges of new COVID-19 infections.
Masks are still highly recommended. Choose a higher-grade mask if possible, such as a KN95 or KF94, or a cloth mask over a disposable mask to improve the fit and add protection.
To effectively protect yourself and others, choose a mask that:
- Completely covers your mouth and nose
- Fits snugly against the sides of your face without gaps
- Has two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric
- Has a nose wire to prevent air from leaking out of the top of the mask
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Visit our Mental Health and Wellbeing page for information about:
- How to access mental health services or helplines from home
- How to manage your stress about COVID-19
- What you should do if you feel unsafe in your home
- How to access recovery services
Additional Guidance and Resources
Households
Pregnant People and Children
People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has provided a COVID-19 communications cardto help hard of hearing and Deaf individuals and patients communicate with hospital staff, medical personnel, first responders, and service providers.
Colleges and Universities
Childcare and Schools
COVID-19 Testing Information
Persons experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, or other symptoms should contact their medical provider to discuss testing and consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household. Testing may also be advised if you are not fully vaccinated and have recently traveled out of Massachusetts.
Read more from the CDC or call 3-1-1. If you test positive, review the latest guidelines on isolation and precautions from the CDC.
Where to get tested for COVID-19?
All Somerville residents can get tested for free, regardless of health insurance or immigration status. You do not need to be symptomatic to receive a test.
New COVID-19 Testing Opportunities in Somerville
PCR testing is available for people with COVID-19 symptoms or who have been exposed to COVID-19. Testing is free, regardless of health insurance or immigration status.
Igreja Internacional da Graça de Deus (ICGG church). Use the rear entrance at 78 Franklin Street via their back parking lot. Note: it's Franklin Street NOT Franklin Avenue. The church faces Washington St. but the entrance for testing is around the corner on Franklin Street about two blocks from their 85 Washington Street address.
- No appointment required.
- Open to Somerville residents and workers with COVID symptoms or known COVID exposure.
- The first hour of the day is reserved for Senior+ Hour for seniors age 65 and older, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable persons facing barriers to access.
Where to Get At-Home Tests
You can get tested for COVID-19 from the comfort of your home. Both molecular (such as PCR) and antigen at-home tests are available.
Purchase an at-home test kit:
- Self-tests can be purchased online or in pharmacies and retail stores. Look for a version that is currently approved by the FDA:
- At-Home Antigen COVID-19 Tests approved by the FDA
- At-Home PCR COVID-19 Tests approved by the FDA
- Tip: Search for “home” in the search bar to narrow the list to tests you can take at home.
- Your healthcare provider is required to cover up to $12 per test for eight at-home antigen tests per person per month. Ask your insurance company if it offers direct coverage or whether you will need to submit a claim for reimbursement. Learn more from these FAQs.
You can also request an at-home test kit:
- Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Tests from the federal government: Each household can request four free at-home tests at covidtests.gov. Tests are expected to ship within 7-12 days of ordering. Tests can also be requested over the phone by calling 800-232-0233 or TTY 888-720-7489.
- PCR COVID-19 Tests provided by the State: Eligible people in Massachusetts can also have an at-home PCR test sent to them for free. These tests are available to people who have symptoms of COVID-19, have been exposed to COVID-19, have been advised to get tested by a health professional, or who live or work in a congregate setting. Request a free, at-home PCR test here. If you need assistance requesting a kit, please contact 3-1-1 (617-666-3311).
- Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Tests through the City: The City of Somerville received 16,650 free at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits from the state that are were distributed via various channels to Somerville residents who have limited access to testing, limited means to purchase at-home tests, and are at high risk of exposure. For more information about the previous distribution of kits, please visit here.
The FDA has more information on the different types of COVID-19 tests.
Where to Get In-Person Testing
Please contact the sites listed below before visiting in case hours and operations have changed:
- Somerville City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Ave.
- Tuesdays, 2-3:30 p.m.
- East Somerville Community School (outside the Glen St. entrance)
- Thursdays, 4-5:30 p.m.
- Tests are available on a first come, first served basis. While no appointment is need, you can save time at the test site by pre-registering. Pre-register here or call 311 (617-666-3311) for assistance in any language.
- Tests are available to Somerville residents who are symptomatic or have a known exposure to COVID-19. Residents seeking a test for travel or reasons other than suspected infection or known exposure should visit an alternative location.
- Testing is provided at no cost, regardless of health insurance or immigration status.
- Results will be provided by text and/or email within 30 minutes of testing.
- Thursdays, 4-5:30 p.m.
Cataldo Ambulance - Rivergreen Park, 1 Rivergreen Drive, Everett
- Free for all people, regardless of insurance or immigration status
- No appointment necessary
- 7:00am-7:00pm Mon-Fri
- 12:00pm-6:00pm Sat
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, 79 Paris St, Boston
- Free for all people, regardless of insurance or immigration status.
- Make an appointment by calling 617-568-4500 or online
- This site is accessible via the Maverick MBTA on the Blue Line
- 8:30am-11:30am & 1:00pm-4:30pm Mon-Fri
Other COVID-19 Testing Sites
Search for COVID-19 testing locations by zip code at mass.gov/GetTested. Note that not all sites listed are free.
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