Chilmark selectmen created a plan for a coronavirus public awareness campaign at an emergency meeting with the board of health Thursday, bolstering local virus mitigation efforts as cases continue to rise Island-wide.

The meeting, called earlier in the week by the selectmen, focused on town-specific measures to curtail the virus’s spread, following a record-breaking two-weeks of positive cases on the Island. The selectmen also plan to attend a formal meeting with the board of health on Nov. 18 about the state of virus spread on the Island.

On Thursday, Chilmark board of health member Matthew Poole came before the committee to provide updates on the most recent spikes and the path of the spread on the Island.

According to early contact tracing, recent cases have by and large been traced to social or family gatherings. Transmission among family members and social groups have subsequently seeped into the workplace, Mr. Poole said, noting a recent cluster of 14 cases at Cronig’s Market this week. Other factors, including off-Island shopping trips, have also contributed to the spread, he said.

Heeding recommendations from the board of health, the selectmen resolved to launch a multi-part community messaging campaign, aimed at educating town residents and strongly reiterating the importance of safety protocols.

Campaign measures will include compiling a set of coronavirus talking points for the community, with key information about the nature of the virus and its spread. The messaging will also reiterate town rules for social distancing, mask-wearing and limiting gatherings.

At the recommendation of health agents, the selectmen chose Mary Breslauer, a communications expert who has previously worked with the boards of health, to spearhead the campaign. Ms. Breslauer will work on spreading awareness through community channels, such as religious centers, local newspapers and social media, selectmen agreed.

“We’ve basically gotten away with doing all carrot,” Ms. Breslauer said. “And now I think we have to make it clear in our messaging that it’s carrot and stick, that we’re at a point where we need to remind people that there are fines that can be levied and this community can be shut down.”

Selectman Jim Malkin said he hoped the campaign would inspire similar efforts in other Island towns.

On a more granular level, selectmen paid particular attention to limiting spread within the Island’s trade communities.

“We’re seeing it absolutely seep into the building trades,” said Mr. Poole. “It’s only a matter of time before it is really, you know, a real problem in the building trades. We might have seen a glimpse of that today. But it’s fairly predictable, that that’s not going to fix itself.”

Heeding advice, selectmen agreed to institute a strict one-warning policy for all town building sites that fail to comply with safety regulation. After the warning, non-complying sites will be shut down, selectmen agreed.

Thorough inspections will be conducted by assistant health inspector Forrest Filler, who was recently re-hired by the board of health.

Board of health members noted that they were not yet prepared to take more extreme shut-down measures, like closing community spaces. Mr. Poole noted that although retailers, food services and schools have experienced a smattering of positive cases, thus far none have suffered from severe on-site transmission.

Methods of rule enforcement were also discussed, with board of health members agreeing on the importance of taking action.

“You can’t do all the sort of feel-good pamphlet, posters and roadside signs without doing enforcement,” Mr. Poole said. “We really need to just make a public announcement that enforcement is going to be immediate and strong.”

Before adjourning, selectmen and board of health members emphasized the community’s responsibility in continuing to limit spread, urging residents to make careful choices in their personal lives.

“One of the builders had a good idea and it sort of became a slogan over the course of an hour — If it’s not work or school shut it down,” said Mr. Poole. “We’re kind of at that point.”