Martha’s Vineyard Hospital officials are warning Islanders to remain safe as the hospital experiences a surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases.

Despite lower infection rates and fewer severe cases, the Covid pandemic has remained a thorn in the side of Island organizers.

While continuing to monitor the Covid pandemic and prepare for future health crises, Island health officials have one major thing going for them they did not have prior to March of 2020: experience.

Cases of Covid-19 on the Island continued to spike with 457 confirmed cases for the week ending Jan. 15, Island boards of health reported, as free test kit distribution continues this week.

Covid-19 test kits will be available for pick up on Jan. 19 and 20 for residents of Chilmark from the board of health office.

A medically equipped bus offering free vaccines and booster shots will return to the Island next weekend, the Island boards of health announced.

Covid-19 case counts on Martha’s Vineyard continued to see a slight upward trend last week, with 19 confirmed positive cases reported by the Island boards of health in their weekly report issued Monday.

The Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is now scheduling Covid-19 booster shots for all adults ages 18 and older, following last week’s Food and Drug Administration authorization, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The Covid-19 vaccine bus is returning to the Vineyard this weekend to help vaccinate students ages five and up, along with school staff.

Island health officials said 16 people tested positive for Covid-19 during the week ending Saturday, Nov. 13, ending three weeks of declining numbers.