Island health officials reported five new positive Covid-19 tests and 54 active cases on Friday as all three down-Island towns were designated high risk for virus transmission by the state.
One of the new cases was tested at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, one at an off-Island facility, and three at TestMV — the Island’s asymptomatic testing site.
Meanwhile, a cluster of cases connected to an at-home Bible study group has doubled in size to 10 individuals, according to an expanded weekly report from the Island boards of health. The cluster was first identified in a report last Friday as involving five individuals.
The expanded report said that of the 10 cases connected to the Bible study, five involved participants and five involved household/family members. The 10-case cluster is the third case cluster that health agents have identified on the Island; a Columbus Day wedding led to eight Island cases in October, while 19 people connected to Cronig’s Market tested positive in November.
A daily update from the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital confirmed that two Covid-19 patients also remained hospitalized with the virus. According to the most recent update from hospital officials, both patients were in fair condition. The hospital has treated four patients with the virus over the past two weeks. Two patients were discharged in good condition.
The five new cases reported Friday and 54 active ones come as the Island received its first batch of coronavirus vaccinations on Thursday, with front-line medical staff receiving the initial round of 40 doses. The hospital is set to receive another 45 vaccine doses next week.
In the expanded case update that went out Friday, health agents reported that of the 42 positive cases tested between Dec. 13 and Dec. 19, 25 were symptomatic, 13 asymptomatic and four unknown.
The 42 cases identified this week marks a decrease from last week, when 70 people tested positive for the virus — a weekly record since the beginning of the pandemic.
According to new data provided by health officials in the report, the Island has had 163 residents test positive for the coronavirus since Nov. 29. Of those patients, 91 were symptomatic, 63 were asymptomatic and nine were classified as unknown, health officials said.
The Island has now reported 449 total laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus over the course of the pandemic, with 347 coming since November.
The state has officially designated all three down-Island towns as “high risk” for coronavirus spread after each reported more than 25 coronavirus cases over the past two weeks. Tisbury reported 26 cases, Edgartown 31 and Oak Bluffs 35, according to state DPH data.
Previously, only Edgartown was classified as a high risk town, although all three have fallen into the category during various points as the pandemic has progressed in recent weeks. West Tisbury reported 14 cases, Chilmark fewer than five, and Aquinnah zero.
Statewide, cases continued to spike, with the DPH reporting 5,632 new positive coronavirus tests on Friday and 53 new deaths. There are now more than 1,800 patients hospitalized with the virus across the Commonwealth and 370 in the ICU.
More than 300,000 people have now tested positive for the virus in the state, and 11,358 have died.
Comments
Comment policy »