Mirroring the statewide trend, Covid-19 cases on Martha’s Vineyard are seeing a sharp decline following a record spike in early January.
The Island boards of health recorded 133 new cases in their report for the week ending Jan. 29, a drop of nearly 200 cases from the week prior. The weekly total still reflects a case count higher than any seen until the start of the year.
An additional 22 cases were recorded through Monday, for a nine-day total of 155.
Despite the drop in cases, Covid patients at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital have increased. The hospital is currently caring for three patients with Covid, spokesman Marissa Lefebvre told the Gazette in an email Monday, all in either fair or good condition. Last week the hospital had two Covid patients.
Of the cases recorded by the Island boards of health last week, 75 were in vaccinated people, two in partially vaccinated people and 36 in unvaccinated people. The vaccination statuses of 20 people who tested positive are unknown.
As the six Island towns attempt to provide more regular distribution of free, at-home rapid tests, it is unclear when the next shipment from the federal government will be, Tisbury health agent Maura Valley said in an email.
Some towns may have remaining test kits; updated test kits distribution information is available on town websites.
In Tisbury as of Tuesday afternoon, some test kits were still available at the town hall annex and fire station. The library had run out of kits, according to health agent Maura Valley.
Chilmark has scheduled distribution at town hall on Wednesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. while supplies last.
Edgartown will distribute tests from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday on the second floor of town hall while supplies last, according to a post last Wednesday.
No distribution times for this week had been listed at press time Monday for Aquinnah, Oak Bluffs and West Tisbury.
Updated to reflect home test kit availability as of Tuesday.
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