Health officials report Martha’s Vineyard is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases
“We need people to be vigilant.”
Health officials on Martha’s Vineyard are warning that the island is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases, the Cape Cod Times reports.
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Over the past week, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and the local boards of health have reported 18 new cases, according to the newspaper, prompting officials to issue a joint statement with hospital CEO Denise Schepici warning residents to keep avoiding large gatherings and practice social distancing and mask-wearing in public. It was the highest weekly number of cases the island has seen since March.
“These high numbers should be viewed for what they are: a stark warning to all of us that we are not out of the woods and every one of us remain at risk for infection,” Tisbury Health Agent Maura Valley said in the statement, according to the Times. “We need people to be vigilant about the protocols to avoid exposure and if they are exposed or receive a positive test, to cooperate fully with our contact tracers.”
According to the Times, five of the cases were linked to a wedding held over Columbus Day weekend and contact tracing is underway for the remaining new infections.
The health officials warned that the spike in cases could push Martha’s Vineyard into being classified by the state as one of the communities at high risk for COVID-19.
“Everyone has worked so hard these past seven months to keep our prevalence low,” Schepici said in the statement. “We cannot be subdued into thinking the virus is waning or is not a threat, so we need to keep up all our smart practices to keep us all protected and safe. Please take care and follow the guidelines. If we stay together on this we will get through it together.”
Read the full report at the Times.
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