COVID-19 Case Type Breakdown 5/11/2023 (Historical)

This dataset is no longer being updated as of 5/11/2023. It is being retained on the Open Data Portal for its potential historical interest.

This table reports case classification and status data.

The "test mode" rows show confirmed and probable case counts for all Cambridge residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been clinically diagnosed with the disease to date. The numbers represented in these rows reflect individual people (cases), not tests performed. If someone is clinically diagnosed and later gets an antibody test, for example, they will be removed from the “clinical diagnosis” category and added to the “antibody positive” category. Case classification is based on guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and is as follows:

Confirmed Case: A person with a positive viral (PCR) test for COVID-19. This test is also known as a molecular test.

Probable Case: A person with a positive antigen test. This test is also known as a rapid test.
A person who is a known contact of a confirmed case and has received a clinical diagnosis based on their symptoms. People in this category have not received a viral or antibody test. Whenever possible, lab results from a viral (PCR) test are used to confirm a clinical diagnosis, and if that is not feasible, antibody testing can be used.

Suspect Case: A person with a positive antibody test. This test is also known as a serology test.

The "case status" rows show current outcomes for all Cambridge residents who are classified as confirmed, probable, or suspect COVID-19 cases. Outcomes include:

Recovered Case: The Cambridge Public Health Department determines if a Cambridge COVID-19 case has recovered based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s criteria for ending home isolation: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-in-home-patients.html. Staff from the Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) or the state’s Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC) follow up with all reported COVID-19 cases multiple times throughout their illness. It is through these conversations that CPHD or CTC staff determine when a Cambridge resident infected with COVID-19 has met the CDC criteria for ending isolation, which connotes recovery. While many people with mild COVID-19 illness will meet the CDC criteria for ending isolation (i.e., recovery) in under two weeks, people who survive severe illness might not meet the criteria for six weeks or more.

Active Case: This category reflects Cambridge COVID-19 cases who are currently infected. Note: There may be a delay in the time between a person being released from isolation (recovered) and when their recovery is reported.

Death: This category reflects total deaths among Cambridge COVID 19 cases.

Unknown Outcome: This category reflects Cambridge COVID-19 cases who public health staff have been unable to reach by phone or letter, or who have stopped responding to follow up from public health staff.