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 Tuesday.
The positive cases showed a slight decline from last week’s tally of 486 positive cases.
In a weekly report, Island boards of health said 148 cases were reported from the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, 75 from TestMV, 47 from Island schools, seven from the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, nine other providers, seven from in-school rapid tests, and 164 from at-home test kits.
Over the holiday weekend an additional 87 cases were reported. And on Tuesday, another 37 cases were confirmed, bringing a 10-day total of 581 cases.
According to the boards’ weekly report, 124 cases recorded last week were from people who are fully vaccinated (at least two doses), four partially vaccinated and 50 unvaccinated. The vaccination status of the other 279 individuals who tested positive is unknown.
The Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is treating one patient with Covid, who is in serious condition, spokesperson Marissa Lefebvre wrote in an email to the Gazette Tuesday. Last week, the hospital treated two patients with the virus.
The surge in recorded cases comes as the Island boards of health begin counting at-home rapid tests in case tallies. All six Island towns have received shipments of thousands of at-home kits from the federal government, freely distributed to residents. In recent weeks, test kit distribution has brought long lines as stock at pharmacies and stores remains low.
Island Healthcare, which coordinated the shipments, and the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital have also received kits. Tisbury health agent Maura Valley said more rapid tests are on the way.
“Island Health Care and the boards of health have placed orders to receive Covid test kits each week for the next three weeks,” she wrote in an email to the Gazette Tuesday. “Our next order is expected within a day or two and information on distribution points will be posted on individual town websites once delivery is confirmed.”
Those in search of test kits can also order them through covidtests.gov.
Last week, the Island boards of health issued a public health message urging residents to take all available precautions to protect themselves from infection. The boards urged full vaccination for those over five years old, and the wearing of N95 and K95 masks over cloth or surgical face coverings.
