Martha’s Vineyard health officials reported 25 new cases of coronavirus over the weekend and one new hospitalization, as case numbers continue to climb on the Island.
In a daily update sent out Monday afternoon, Island health agents reported 16 new cases on Monday, one new case Sunday and eight new cases Saturday. Health agents only report case numbers on weekdays.
According to the report, 18 of the new Covid-19 cases were tested at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, which is testing symptomatic patients and their close contacts for the virus. Another seven cases were tested at TestMV — the Island’s comprehensive testing site that is focused on asymptomatic testing.
Case totals have ballooned on the Island since early November, with more than 80 per cent of the Island’s 424 confirmed laboratory positive Covid-19 patients reported in the past month and a half. Edgartown remains a high-risk town for Covid-spread, according to the state, while Oak Bluffs and Tisbury are moderate risk towns. Both were previously included as high-risk towns for virus spread.
The Island currently has at least 60 active cases of the virus, close to its peak since the pandemic began.
Meanwhile, in a daily website update Monday, the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital reported that it currently had one patient hospitalized with the virus. The hospital has been updating its website at 3 p.m. daily.
In a followup email to the Gazette, a hospital spokesman confirmed that the patient was admitted on Sunday and is in good condition.
A patient was previously hospitalized on Dec. 9, according to hospital officials, who last reported that the patient was in good condition. Hospital spokesman Marissa Lefebvre confirmed in an email on Monday that the patient was discharged in good condition on Saturday.
Meanwhile, as the first vaccine shipments went out around the country Monday, the Vineyard hospital is eagerly awaiting its first batch, which it expects will come on Friday, Ms. Lefebvre said. Front-lines health care workers will receive the vaccine first, followed by residents in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities according to the state. The hospital confirmed last week that it is included in Phase 1a of the state’s planned Covid-19 vaccine distribution process.
Statewide, case numbers saw a slight decline on Monday, with the Department of Public Health reporting 3,572 new patients and 37 new deaths. The state had reported more than 5,000 cases most days last week, and more than 40 deaths on average.
The state has now had more than 280,000 patients test positive for the virus, and 11,135 patients die.
On Sunday Gov. Charlie Baker’s rollback to step one of phase three took effect, placing further limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings, in an attempt to curb the widespread spike in case counts around the commonwealth.
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