Coronavirus cases continued to surge on the Island over Martin Luther King Day weekend, with 32 new positive tests since Friday, one new hospitalization and the first positive in the school testing program.
Coronavirus cases continued to surge on the Island over Martin Luther King Day weekend, with Island health agents reporting 32 new positive tests since Friday, one new hospitalization and the first positive in the school testing program.
The 32 new cases Tuesday come after the Island saw 18 new cases on Friday, making 50 over the past five days.
Health agents also reported 91 active Covid-19 cases on Friday, the second-highest number since the pandemic began. One week prior, the Island boards of health reported 94 active coronavirus cases, on Friday, Jan. 8.
The Martha’s Vineyard Hospital had previously reported 18 new cases over the weekened. But due to the holiday Monday, the number of new cases outside the hospital was unknown because health agents had not released a report. Health agent reports compile Island cases from the hospital, as well as the asymptomatic testing site TestMV, among other locations.
On Tueday, health agents added 12 cases to the hospital’s total, including nine from TestMV, one from another provider and the first positive test in the Island public school testing program.
School officials confirmed the first positive test in a letter that went out this weekend.
“We have received the Covid-19 test results from last week’s Mirimus testing. There was one individual who tested positive and has been notified. The school nurse, along with the board of health agent will complete any necessary contact tracing,” superintendent Matt D’Andrea wrote to parents.
The schools have conducted 1,265 tests. There are currently 20 students in quarantine due to positive tests outside the testing program, according to the school website.
In the report that came out Tuesday, health agents said that 13 of the new cases came on Saturday, 10 on Sunday, three on Monday and six on Tuesday. Health agents also reported three new probable cases of the virus on Tuesday, two of whom were sympomatically diagnosed and one patient who tested positive for viral antibodies.
The hospital reported in its daily online update that there are currently two patients admitted to the hospital with the virus. Spokesman Marissa Lefebvre said in an email Monday that both patients are in good condition.
A patient admitted last week was discharged on Friday, Jan. 15, according to Ms. Lefebvre. But a third patient was admitted to the hospital on Saturday, Jan. 16, meaning that there are still two patients hospitalized.
Ms. Lefebvre said in the email that there had not been any coronavirus-related transfers since a patient was airlifted to Boston in serious condition on Tuesday of last week. An update on that patient has not been provided.
The hospital has reported 513 positive cases since the pandemic began, according to the report, with more than 400 of them coming since November. The Island’s total caseload now sits at 738 confirmed positive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, with another 27 patients testing positive for viral antibodies and 21 symptomatically diagnosed.
More than 200 patients have tested positive at TestMV.
According to Friday’s expanded daily report from health agents, 64 of the 154 cases reported over the past two weeks are symptomatic, 22 are asymptomatic and 68 are unknown.
All three down-Island towns are now high risk communities for Covid-19 transmission, according to a state Department of Public Health report that came out on Thursday. West Tisbury is a moderate risk community for viral spread.
Island towns are considered high risk if they report more than 25 cases in a two-week period. Edgartown has reported 51, Tisbury 47 and Oak Bluffs 32, according to the report. West Tisbury has reported 17.
Statewide, the DPH reported a slight dip in case numbers Monday, with 3,224 new positive tests reported. The state had reported a seven-day daily average of more than 6,000 cases as recently as Jan. 8. That number has since decreased to 3,786. Hospitalizations have also declined slightly across the state, down from approximately 2,400 on Jan. 8 to approximately 2,200 on Monday. Approximately 17 per cent of hospital beds are available in the state’s Southeast region.
The DPH reported 52 new deaths on Monday, bringing the total to 13,424. There have been no Covid-19 related deaths on Martha’s Vineyard.
Comments
“According to Friday’s
Just Curious West Tisbury“According to Friday’s expanded daily report from health agents, 64 of the 154 cases reported over the past two weeks are symptomatic, 22 are asymptomatic and 68 are unknown.”
So it’s not known whether 68 of the 154 folks that tested positive over the last two weeks have symptoms or not? Really?
Probably people who didn't
Jeremy Osborn TisburyProbably people who didn't answer the phone when the BoH or contact tracers call.
Very simple reason for the
Edson EdgartownVery simple reason for the high numbers! People Not Wearing their Masks period or `Properly` which I see all the time like nose not covered etc.
People definitely not Social Distancing even on the boat (SSA) below deck when they get out of their cars during the 45 minuet trip because it is to hot sitting in their cars the whole time.
Also I see all the time especially outside workers not social distancing and workers in Trucks with dangling masks hanging off their ears and some of the drivers not even wearing a mask.
People dont and wont learn or care!
I am just glad that my wife and I happily very strictly follow ALL the recommended safety precautions as we anxiously wait our turn for the vaccine.
It is really unsettling
julie robinson west tisburyIt is really unsettling watching the surge hit the Vineyard. Is there a way to learn , not who the positive patients are, but where they have been on the island so we are aware of where to be extra careful.
Thanks, julie
It would be simple for
Jacqueline ChilmarkIt would be simple for trackers to ask covid positive patients to list every place they’ve been indoors in the 2 weeks prior to diagnosis, a time when they were contagious. Either trackers don’t ask or they don’t publicize the answers, even though they should. To reduce your risk, do not put yourself anywhere indoors where people do not have masks covering their mouth and nose at all times. Use take-out only at restaurants. Don’t gather. Wash hands. Wear your mask outside your home. You know the drill. People can be selfish and irresponsible. The reporting of helpful facts is lacking. It’s clear to me that the emphasis of reporting is on keeping businesses running and open. Public health takes second place. Social media proves this every day. Some business owners encourage known unsafe behavior, like dining in restaurants. This newspaper hasn’t published my comments discouraging indoor restaurant dining, so we’ll see if this one makes it.
Are you going to financially
Mark EdgartownAre you going to financially bridge the restaurants that you would like closed or to only do takeout? Even with the potential of another $2 trillion in stimulus funds, the restaurant / hospitality industry is in dire condition. If restaurants abide by BOH guidelines, then they should be free to operate.
No one wants restaurants to
Jacqueine ChilmarkNo one wants restaurants to close. Most businesses must adapt and many have, Mark from Edgartown. And no one's condition is more dire than the 409,000 Americans dead of covid. The rest of the state has covid numbers going down, but not the Vineyard. People gathering and not wearing masks are why we cannot get a grip here.
Doesn’t it seem obvious to
Islander Martha’s VineyardDoesn’t it seem obvious to people at this point that there are some who are diagnosed who are not quarantining? Can’t see how we would have so many cases at this point, steady cases, without at least some who are to be quarantining, and I believe are required to by the BOH, not quarantining. Not good!
what is going on?
august west edgartownwhat is going on?
This is indeed sorrowful news
japii Philadelphia, PAThis is indeed sorrowful news and I/we pray the best outcome for all the islanders facing the challenges of the pandemic.
One thing stands out for us though...
Last year, there was much vitriolic rhetoric directed at those of us who decided to keep our annual plans, about how our coming would endanger the lives of locals and hospitals would be overwhelmed...
It did not happen...
We came, had a full house, was careful (as we are normally), and we all arrivedj (documented) negative, and came back home negative...
Yet, now, at perhaps the time of year when the island visitor count is lowest, the positive cases are highest since the pandemic started...
Will there be any walking-back of last season’s vitriol, or will it be repeated again this year?
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