Island health agents reported nine new cases of coronavirus cases on Friday and identified a cluster of cases connected to an at-home bible study group, as a monthlong case surge on the Vineyard continues to grow.

In a brief phone interview Friday, Tisbury health agent Maura Valley confirmed that the cluster had been identified over the past few days and was not connected to any particular church, but rather to an at-home bible study group.

The cluster was reported in an expanded weekly case update that went out Friday afternoon, and currently includes five cases.

“It’s a group of people who get together and do Bible study. It was in a home, not a church,” Ms. Valley said.

Almost all Island religious facilities have cancelled or severely curtailed in-person services since the pandemic began, with a few small congregations continuing to hold outdoor events. Ms. Valley was quick to caution that Islanders should not be gathering outside their close family or household groups.

“This should not be happening in person,” Ms. Valley said. “People should be paying attention to the recommendations and guidance that is out there, and not be having social gatherings with people outside your immediate family that lives with you.”

The recent cluster is the third identified on the Island since the pandemic began, with eight cases connected to a wedding that was held on the Island in October, and 19 connected to Cronig’s Market.

Ms. Valley did not know how many people in total attended the bible study.

“We’re still in the contact tracing process. I have asked for a list of the people who attended,” Ms. Valley said.

Meanwhile, health agents reported that all nine new cases reported in an expanded update Friday were tested at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. The report stated that the Island currently has 67 active cases; nine reported between Nov. 29 and Dec. 5, and 58 reported between Dec. 6 and Dec. 12.

A patient who was admitted to the hospital on Dec. 9 remains an inpatient, according to a daily update from the hospital current as of 3 p.m. Friday. In an email Friday morning, hospital head of operations Claire Seguin said the patient was in good condition.

The nine new cases brings the Island’s weekly case count to 62 — one fewer than the record 63 cases reported during the third week of November. The Island has reported 113 cases since Nov. 29 and 297 since Nov. 1, accounting for about three-quarters of the Island’s total 399 laboratory-positive confirmed case count since the pandemic began.

Health agents have continued to describe the current daily case totals — which have hovered around 10 throughout the week — as a surge, and have cautioned that community spread is continuing. Edgartown remains a high-risk town for Covid-19 spread, according to a newly-released weekly report from the state, while Tisbury and Oak Bluffs have been designated as moderate risk communities.

Of the 62 new cases reported this week, 29 are symptomatic, 27 are asymptomatic and seven are unknown, with health agents still following up on the patients. Last week, when 51 cases were reported, 27 were symptomatic and 24 were asymptomatic.

The data regarding symptomatic patients is new from Friday’s report and had not been included in previous health agent reports.

Statewide, cases continued to spike, with the Department of Public Health reporting 5,745 new positive coronavirus tests on Friday and 47 new deaths. The state has now reported more than 5,000 cases for the third straight day.

Hospitalizations have also risen to 1,605 patients, with 309 in intensive care units. The state has reported 11,010 deaths across the commonwealth since the pandemic began. There have been no deaths reported among Vineyard Covid-19 patients.