<p>Martha’s Vineyard boards of health reported one new positive coronavirus test and one new positive antibody test among Island residents on Wednesday, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases on-Island to 28.</p>
Martha’s Vineyard boards of health reported one new positive coronavirus test and one new positive antibody test among Island residents on Wednesday, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases on-Island to 28.
But a change in reporting procedures by the boards of health will now distinguish between those who test positive for the virus and those who test positive for viral antibodies. Those who test positive for antibodies will be considered suspected positives, Tisbury health agent Maura Valley explained. Ms. Valley is the designated spokesman for the six boards of health, who release daily reports on case counts and other information. The Martha’s Vineyard Hospital reports its testing information daily on its website.
Martha’s Vineyard now has had 24 people test positive for the virus, and four people test positive for viral antibodies, according to the report from the boards of health Wednesday.
“In order to more clearly reflect what is being reported I have changed the format to report antibody tests as probable positives rather than confirmed positives,” Ms. Valley said in an email. The boards of health had previously decided to include positive antibody tests among confirmed positive cases.
The individual who tested positive for the virus on Wednesday was the first individual who tested positive for the virus off-Island. The other 23 positive Covid-19 tests have occurred at the Vineyard hospital, the only on-Island location with a coronavirus testing lab. The four positive antibody tests were also done off-Island.
“The new PCR positive result is an Island resident that was tested off-Island which is why the individual does not appear in the hospital count,” Ms. Valley wrote.
On Wednesday morning the hospital said it had tested 607 patients for the virus, with 23 positives, 573 negatives and 11 pending. The hospital also announced this week that it would test all of the residents and staff of its Windemere nursing facility, which numbers more 100 people. The date of the testing has not been announced.
Viral serology — or antibody — tests are currently only available off-Island. All four individuals who have tested positive for viral antibodies have done so off-Island within the past week. Ms. Valley said the individuals are no longer symptomatic and have completed monitoring.
According to the daily demographic provided by Ms. Valley, the Island has had 11 male and 13 female residents test positive for the virus. The age breakdown of the cases is as follows: two individuals under 20, five in their 20s, two in their 30s, one in their 40s and seven in both their fifties and sixties.
All four individuals who have tested positive for antibodies are female, with one in her 20s, one in her 40s and two in their 50s.
Statewide, new cases increased for the first time in two days, with the Department of Public Health (DPH) reporting 1,165 people testing positive for the virus on Wednesday. The total number of cases throughout the state has now eclipsed 80,000.
The DPH reported 174 deaths on Wednesday — a marked increase from the 33 reported on Tuesday. Clerical errors were possibly a factor in the low count on Tuesday, state officials said.
Also Wednesday the DPH released case information on a town-by-town basis. The state is reporting seven confirmed cases in Edgartown, seven in West Tisbury, fewer than five cases in Tisbury, Oak Bluffs and Chilmark, and zero cases in Aquinnah. There are also no cases on Gosnold, the Elizabeth islands chain and seventh town in Dukes County.
In his daily press briefing, Gov. Charlie Baker continued to reiterate plans for a phased re-opening, saying that businesses with the least amount of human-to-human contact would be allowed to open first. The governor plans to release a report on the phased re-opening May 18, when the statewide stay-at-home order is set to expire.
Meanwhile, municipal governments on the Island have been mulling local issues with regard to the May 18 date over the past week, including further relaxations on the Islandwide construction moratorium and the opening of beaches. The general consensus from town leaders has been that they are wary about making any decisions before the governor comes out with his guidelines.
On Wednesday, the Island was busy as Vineyarders enjoyed a brisk, breezy spring day, the warm sun a welcome reprieve from the recent cold as temperatures climbed into the mid-50s.
Comments
I wonder when folks will
Carol EdgartownI wonder when folks will realize most not all of us have had Covid and recovered.
People really have to look at the numbers...
Of the 5,141 virus deaths in Massachusetts, 3,095 have occurred in the state’s nursing homes — more than 60%, double the percentage even in New York.
So that leaves us with 2,000 deaths
In Massachusetts most of the people that died had underlying health issues.
So we are destroying our county’s economy and families can’t feed there children? For what I ask?
Don’t get me wrong any death is sad and I feel there pain. But we can be better than this.
When the Governor of Massachusetts opened the county clubs, so his wealthy friends can hit a golf ball around. While local Parks in the State remain closed. That was a slap on the face to all the hard working people staying home... for no reason.. The politicians should all stay home and let the people work.
Don’t forget Charlie we are paying you and all your government employees that are all getting paid vacations right now.
If we were all in this together, why hasn’t Governor Baker taking a pay cut? Why hasn’t there been any layoffs/furloughs in State/local government agency’s? Because we are not all in this together...
God help us all if we don’t open soon..
So what you’re saying is, the
IslanderSo what you’re saying is, the 2000 people who died because they had underlying health issues don’t matter? So since you don’t have any underlying health issues, it’s okay to just let those with say asthma die?
Just saying that the people
Wondering EdgartownJust saying that the people who died were going to die of something. Soon. And the healthy people waiting to go back to work are not likely to die of anything. Soon. Maybe later but not soon. See the difference?
Will be interesting to hear
Mark EdgartownWill be interesting to hear the complaining once folks grasp the economic carnage this will bring to the island. No summer economy means no tax revenue. No tax revenue means police, teachers and public employees being laid off and increased taxes. If you have a preexisting condition please continue to shelter in place, otherwise let’s pragmatically open the economy.
If we choose to reopen the
Alan Oak BluffsIf we choose to reopen the island as suggested here, a huge spike in cases is inevitable. Especially as June-July-August approach. God bless Governor Charlie Baker! To suggest that he take a pay cut is beyond ludicrous. He has been working harder than ever in his efforts to keep us safe and has made tough and sometimes unpopular decisions. Unlike Carol’s depiction of our Governor, he does not cater to special interests and is not influenced by wealthy friends. In fact, the private golf club members Carol mentions have been slamming our Governor’s ban on golf and making very ignorant and derogatory comments about his leadership because he hasn’t catered to their sense of entitlement. Let’s give credit where credit is due.
As the financial costs
William ExPBA New York & ChilmarkAs the financial costs continue to mount, we do have to make some hard decisions about priorities as we learn more. The average age of C-19 deaths in MA is 82. more than 50% of the deaths have been people in nursing homes. If you test positive for c-19 and die one month later in a car accident. MA classifies the death as C-19. The virus is not going away. Stay home if your at risk, lock down nursing homes better. That's where we are headed as policy.
Please pardon me for not
Becca West TisburyPlease pardon me for not fully believing in your empathy Carol. In my experience, condolences followed by “but” are not genuine. Kind of like saying “No offense, but...” usually means what’s being said is offensive.
What makes you think most of
Felicia ChilmarkWhat makes you think most of us have had it? The statistics don’t show that. Even on the island with 600+ tests, the hospital only has 23 cases. I think social distancing has worked.
Let's keep on the side of
Mike Cunningham EdgartownLet's keep on the side of prudence not profits this season, I'd rather see our small island population alive and hated than dead and loved.
“Let's keep on the side of
Jim Boston /Egartown“Let's keep on the side of prudence not profits this season.“
I need to feed my family!
I don’t get a check from the government. I do not have a government job where I can stay home and get paid...
We pay the Gov’t workers and all there perks and benefits....
I stay home I don’t get paid. Governor Baker thinks everyone is a government employee I guess, or a wealthy trust funder...
Nice how he opened the county clubs so his pals can play golf while my daughter can’t go to the playground.
So disappointed in our Governor’s across the country. Playing politics when to open the country.
Protect the elderly and sick. Don’t lock down the healthy. They need us more than ever to be working..
My wife and I have been
Terry EdgartownMy wife and I have been pleased to experience the kindness and mutual concern Vineyarders have shown each other. We need to stick together. The Coronvirus has the potential to bind us together in mutual concern or break us and the country into splinters. I understand the need to work and earn a living, but I’m an older person who needs those who are likely to survive the virus to avoid spreading it. We need to commit the resources to make sure that everyone has food and the necessities for us and our children. This is a time for our towns and social services to make sure all families are safe and have sufficient resources while we ride this out.
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