The pace of cancellations has quickened and Island agencies and businesses are announcing new rules aimed at controlling the spread of Covid-19.
No cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed on Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket or Cape Cod. But like an approaching hurricane, the growing coronavirus pandemic has sent Islanders into emergency planning mode.
After Gov. Charlie Baker’s state of emergency declaration Tuesday afternoon, the pace of event cancellations has quickened, while Island agencies and businesses are announcing new rules aimed at controlling the spread of the virus.
Martha’s Vineyard Hospital announced Thursday that it is limiting visits to patients, closing its cafeteria and meeting areas to the public and screening all visitors to Windemere.
Anyone with signs of a cold is asked to stay away from the hospital or use a mask, and all visitors are asked to continue regular hand washing and be prepared for enhanced screening by hospital staff and security at any time.
From left to right: Martha's Vineyard Hospital CEO Denise Schepici with Claire Seguin and Katrina Delgadillo.
From left to right: Martha's Vineyard Hospital CEO Denise Schepici with Claire Seguin and Katrina Delgadillo.
“This is really serious, and we need people to take this seriously,” chief executive officer Denise Schepici told the Gazette.
Coronavirus will come to Martha’s Vineyard, Ms. Schepici said, and she has taken the lead in gathering town emergency managers and health agents to coordinate an Island-wide preparedness plan.
“I am going to take charge, because we have to,” she said. “We’re going to be the focal point for everything.”
Ms. Schepici said her first priority is to make sure hospital staff are not infected.
“We need to protect our workforce,” she said. “We’ve got a great team here and we’ve got to keep them safe so they can take care of people.”
Islanders who believe they have been exposed to the coronavirus and are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 should contact their primary care physicians and avoid the hospital unless they are very ill and need immediate care, Ms. Schepici said.
“Our staff have to take care of the patients who come here every day, and we don’t want to overwhelm our very fragile health system,” she said. “If I had to quarantine all my emergency room staff. . . I have to shut the emergency room. That can’t happen.”
By calling their primary care physicians, concerned Islanders can be screened by phone to see if they need to be tested for the coronavirus.
“We have a lot of worried well out there who are calling in, demanding they get tested,” Ms. Schepici said.
But coronavirus testing is not available on demand at any Massachusetts hospital, MVH chief quality and clinical officer Claire Seguin said.
“Who gets tested and when is being dictated by the state epidemiologist,” she said.
Along with meeting twice a week with Island officials, Ms. Seguin said MVH takes part in daily telephone meetings with other members of the Partners HealthCare network, which includes Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
“We have experts across our system who know what they’re doing, can provide real-time information and then can provide us with help should we need a response,” Ms. Seguin said.
As public concern about the coronavirus has spread, Islanders visiting the hospital have been making off with boxes of surgical masks and disinfecting wipes and removing hand-sanitizer dispensers from the wall, Ms. Seguin added.
“Folks from the community are taking our supplies, and it’s critical that they know that we need those. . . we need to disinfect between patients and make sure staff have enough masks,” she said.
Hand sanitizers and surgical masks have long disappeared from Island store shelves.
“Antibacterial soap is a hot item,” said pharmacist David Perzanowski of Vineyard Scripts, adding that wholesalers are also sold out of supplies and some of his customers have turned to alcohol and aloe vera juice for home-made sanitizers.
In other signs of pandemic awareness, some Island coffee shops are declining to fill customers’ personal cups and the Offshore Ale Company in Oak Bluffs is no longer providing peanuts in a barrel and is stopping customers from throwing the shells on the floor. Offshore diners now receive bags of peanuts and a paper boat to hold the shells.
On Wednesday, organizers canceled what would have been the 20th Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival, a late-March staple in Chilmark, and the Dukes County Sheriff’s Office announced new restrictions for visitors to the jail in Edgartown.
“Visitation would be allowed, but no physical contact,” said Heather Arpin, employee and public relations assistant at the sheriff’s office. “There would be a glass pane between the two individuals and a phone.”
Social distancing is also part of the strategy at Martha’s Vineyard Bank, whose president James Anthony said his customers are encouraged to enroll in online banking and install the bank’s mobile application on their mobile devices.
“We’re going to be making an aggressive push to recommend that,” said Mr. Anthony.
Vineyard school officials are canceling all out-of-state field trips and evaluating other trips based on their destinations and the number of students involved, superintendent Matthew D’Andrea said Thursday.
A Friday morning conference call with the state departments of education and public health should provide the Island district with new information on how schools should proceed, Mr. D’Andrea said. But in a message sent to district parents Thursday, Mr. D’Andrea encouraged parents to begin planning for the possibility of long-term school closures, preemptively securing child care in case it should become necessary.
“We are taking steps to prepare for delivering online instruction if that becomes necessary,” Mr. D’Andrea told the Gazette. “We will continue to communicate with families as information becomes available and we make decisions.”
James Malkin, the newly-appointed Vineyard representative to the Steamship Authority governing board, said Thursday that the boat line has instituted additional cleaning aboard its ferries and added informational signs about Covid-19.
Motorists will be encouraged to stay in their cars and not to leave the freight deck, Mr. Malkin told the Gazette.
“Given the contagion of this virus and the fact that during the incubation period you could have no symptoms, they’re going to recommend everybody stay in their car for their own protection as well as the traveling public,” Mr. Malkin said.
Comments
We are not under a national
JMWe are not under a national quarantine. I keep my 6 foot distance from people, the few that I have encountered. I assume that everyone is positive - even Bob S.
Fear is your illness
J.M. You have no idea how
Bob SJ.M. You have no idea how epidemics spread. I don’t fear getting this disease one bit. I am 84 years old and not in the best health. I probably should be fearful, however my biggest fear is that I would unknowingly spread this disease to someone else. According to Dr Daniel Ompad, infectious disease epidemiologist and associate professor at New York University school of Public Health, “you should consider the consequences of choosing to travel during the outbreak and the impact it could have for your community. It’s not about me, it’s about keeping other people safe and reducing the risk of transmission.”
This is not about fear mongering it’s about listening to the dire warnings that we are being given. Failure to do so will have devastating consequences.
Bob S, agree with you. My
Lorraine EdgartownBob S, agree with you. My own doctor told me that if no virus on island, a good place to be. If virus on island, it will overwhelm the local facilities. I would love to be on the island just now to start planting herbs, etc., but I listen to the experts. We are all advised to hunker down to stop the spread of this virus, about which much is not known, any other actions are purely selfish. I am self isolating, have enough supplies without hoarding, and have simply canceled every social engagement I had planned, I mean every single one. Let us all pull together and realize that following expert advice benefits all.
Lorraine, thank you for doing
Bob. sLorraine, thank you for doing your part. That is all I am saying. I too, love this summer community and would love for an earlier start to our tourist season, but we all must be active participants in solving this pandemic. Anyone trying to justifying travel to or FROM here or anywhere for that matter is in complete denial. Tell yourselves, 3 weeks. Wait 3 weeks before you decide to travel and again let’s see if these measures are helping. I guarantee you they will.
There are many people who
Lawrence Hier Oak BluffsThere are many people who live off island in towns where there is no covid19 cases. Their chance of bringing the virus to the island is about the same as someone going off island for any reason shopping, medical, family emergency etc. Coming in contact and returning with it. That is how the virus started in Italy. One person returning back home to Italy. From there is mushroomed into a war zone. How did coronavirus start spreading in Italy?
Officially it began in Feb. 20, when a 38-year-old man checked himself into a local hospital in the town of Codogno in Lombardy. He tested positive with the virus, becoming the first recorded patient with the COVID-19 virus in Italy.
Yet some health officials believe that the virus arrived in Italy long before the first case was discovered. “The virus had probably been circulating for quite some time,” Flavia Riccardo, a researcher in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Italian National Institute of Health tells TIME. “This happened right when we were having our peak of influenza and people were presenting with influenza symptoms.”
Before the first case was reported, there was an unusually high number of pneumonia cases recorded at a hospital in Codogno in northern Italy.
You will be hard pressed to know how the virus got to the island. It may very well be someone from the island. My best advice be kind to your neighbors on and off the island. Practice good sanitary habits, don’t join large crowds. Enjoy a month of peace and quiet doing things you haven’t in awhile. If people stop hoarding groceries and other items, the island stores will gear up the way they always have. It is certainly not usual that people come to open their houses and make repairs during this time period. It is also not irresponsible for them to want to come stay in the privacy of their own homes as long as they believe they are virus free. Currently there are only three hot spots in the US. We can beat this virus if we all work together.
This is a time for us to act
Thomas J Bena ChilmarkThis is a time for us to act together, as a community and to care for each other. Of course people want to come here and of course that makes people here nervous. We can all take steps to social distance ourselves and to act appropriately so that we flatten the curve. Haven't we seen enough anger in our country over the past few years? Let's clean up our act, here and now, and act like a community that cares about each other.
Thank you for this!
DownislanderThank you for this!
Now i absolutely adore our
Sue W. edgartownNow i absolutely adore our seasonal community here on the Island. in fact, labor day is one of my least favorite days of the year because the summer residence bring so much life and vitality to the Island. No one is saying, don’t come here for the next two months or don’t come here this season because of Corona virus. We are saying, take a look at your plans and say, is this really in our community and societies best interest to travel during these times? Bob S. you are right and thank you for making the decision to not go to some small town in Maine to hide and escape Corona virus. This kind of thinking is backwards to the objective we should all have during this difficult time. Modify your behavior and habits and do things that will help contain not spread this virus. Traveling either TO or AWAY from your homes is not helping the situation. If you don’t think this will affect you, or this doesn’t apply to your actions, ask yourself again and take a look at what is happening in Italy. This virus has taken the lives of a disproportionate amount of 40 and 50 year olds. Symptoms don’t show for days, sometimes weeks. It is time that we all try to help contain this illness. if you think it is a good time to come and open up your summer home early for a little R&R, YOU are a part of the problem. if you think it’s time to catch a ferry to the Mainland, hop a plane for Mexico or the Caribbean, YOU are a part of the problem. if you can’t change your behavior for a few weeks and set your own god given, tax paying desires aside, then yes, YOU are part of the problem. Lets be kind to one another, maintain distance from one another, delay our vacation plans for a few weeks and see where we are at. Hopefully with this type of cooperation we can put this disease behind us for a while like the Avian and swine flu or the Sars epidemic. This is not about anyone’s right to come to their home, this is about saving lives. If we all don’t start to understand the gravity of this situation, it will only be a matter of time before someone you know is deeply and forever impacted by this epidemic.
As an attorney, I am trained
Gary A.Jenkins, Esq. Scarsdale, NYAs an attorney, I am trained to view both sides of an argument with respect, and to assess the validity and merit of each. As a lifelong summer resident of the island (52 years), I do in fact see merit in both positions expressed on this thread. To those voicers who expressed a concern about an early influx of seasonal residents over burdening the island’s health care system before the increased summer staffing of medical personnel occurs, there is some merit in this position. Similarly, to those seeking to leave the big city and seek social distancing at their summer home on MV where there is literally more room to breathe, it is their absolute right to do so as tax paying property owners.
This entire discussion reminds of a Twilight Zone episode I remember where once the street lights began to flicker out of control and the machinery turned off and on by itself for no apparent reason, the once friendly neighbors became suspicious of each other and literally were at each other’s throats. As the aliens behind the chaos said in their epilogue, humans are easily turned from loving, caring creatures into hateful monsters simply by inserting some angst and insecurity into their lives.
This is not the time to attack each other; our beloved Island needs to prepare for the coming storm, as the corona virus will surely impact its shores, just as the seasonal residents must make sure we are not carriers of the virus before we return. We must remain neighborly and courteous and continue to love each other in the wake of this terrible scourge; if not, we risk losing our humanity, and the corona virus will be the least of our worries.
Bravo Gary, I couldn't agree
J rentalBravo Gary, I couldn't agree more.
There is no reason to assume
Juleann West TisburyThere is no reason to assume that the usual summer staffing of medical personnel will even occur. It's my belief that these people will be expected (required) to stay wherever they are now -- the need will not be "magically" resolved by June. In addition, MV relies heavily on temporary worker visas for a broad range of services -- there is also no reason to expect that this group will be allowed to travel to the U.S. I agree that property owners have a right to be here. In my view, the discussion needs to center around whether short-term visitors (vacation rentals) can safely be allowed. It will be in these short-term turnovers that the virus will truly become overwhelming.
1. Given the COVID-19
JRM Chilmark1. Given the COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalization rates, and death rates, ALL hospitals will be over run. MV Hospital would be overwhelmed by the year round population if zero seasonal residents came to their homes to isolate. You can't keep the virus off the island unless you stop all mainland deliveries, shut down the SSA, close the airport, and don't let ANYONE come or go off the island.
2. If that happens, I bet we could all work together to live off the land, the sea, and the 42 active farms here. There are a lot of good people here year round and a lot of good people who call this home only part of the year. Be nice!
3. Regardless of your position on "summer residents" we should ALL isolate for 14 days upon landing on MV, summer resident or year round resident.
If you won’t listen to me,
Bob S.If you won’t listen to me, maybe you will listen to your federal government because life is about to change for us all and don’t say I didn’t warn you. Taking clear and decisive actions early on is what could actually change the course of this.
Bob S,m agree with you again.
Lorraine EdgartownBob S,m agree with you again. I had the Asian flu in 1957 (you see I am no spring chicken by this admission) so I am following best protocol in the extreme. It is my life and the life of others; we simply cannot think of me, me, me, at this time. We are all in this together and we must put aside selfish desires. Peace be with you and yours and stay well, stay calm and carry on. Good advice.
My husband and I arrived on
Deb ChilmarkMy husband and I arrived on the island on Saturday. We stayed in our car on the ferry. Apart from a couple of short hikes where we passed a few people on the trails, at a safe distance, we have not and will not be going anywhere. Not to the post office, not food shopping (we had or brought everything we need) not anywhere. And no one will be allowed to enter our home for any reason. After two weeks, we will know that we didn’t bring the virus with us. I hope everyone is acting responsibly toward their neighbors.
Deb, thanks for at least
Bob sDeb, thanks for at least traveling responsibly and self quarantining. You are one of the few who has taken a serious approach to returning. Welcome back.
With that said, does anyone still think it is within their right to travel to and from mv? Does anyone still think it’s a good idea to flee your city for the safer countryside of mv? Does anyone still think it’s a good idea to travel from Martha’s Vineyard to go skiing, if you could even find a mountain that is open? Does anyone still want to argue that because you pay taxes, of course you have the right to go to your Vacation home on Martha’s Vineyard, or in Steamboat Springs or in Palm Beach? I’ll say it again, now is our chance to stamp this out, to be totally selfless and put our own needs and desires aside. For anyone who is traveling at this point, you are a part of the problem. Maybe my sobering words from days ago are starting to sink in. Please, everyone do your part. Hunker down or I can tell you that your summer here on Martha’s Vineyard will be a far cry from how you imagined it just a week ago.
"With that said, does anyone
islander Too Tisbury"With that said, does anyone still think it is within their right to travel to and from mv? "
Actually, AFAIK Martha's Vineyard has not seceded from the Union. ##
I believe it is within anyone's *right* to travel to and from MV.##
AFAIK, the SSA is regarded as a part of the Mass State highway system. This is the argument made to people in Falmouth who want to restrict access to the Vineyard through portions of Falmouth.##
AFAIK it is within the legal right of anyone to travel to the Vineyard on the state highway system, until some kind of curfew or other general travel restrictions are declared that apply to the whole state.##
The Vineyard's being an island geographically does not AFAIK make it a legal "island."##
Any relatively isolated community with limited medical facilities---say, in the Berkshires---can make the same argument as that being made here: "Stay away from us!!" With as little legal or even moral or ethical right to do so.##
The general travel advisory---do not travel unnecessarily between and within any communities, and take commonsense measures to reduce your exposure to others and their exposure to you---is equally valid for all. It is not more urgent on the Island because it is an island. Until we are under some kind of martial law or other forced behavior restrictions we will have to rely on our own and others' common sense, grasp of the issues, and goodwill.
Bob, I really hate to tel you
Chris OBBob, I really hate to tel you this but this virus is on island. No positive tests doesn't mean that everyone was tested. How many islanders have been off island since January? It’s been in this country since at least then. There is so much hatred towards summer residents as if they are a plague every year. It’s so tiring. But, I will agree that self quarantine is the best thing to do at this time. Play it safe and keep distance. The island economy will crash this year I am sure. Won’t recover anytime soon as a lot less people will travel here and with people like you spreading such hatred, why would they? I think there needs to be a balance - summer owners should certainly be allowed to come to their homes, visitors maybe not. Better idea, offer a huge discount to do all the work that needs to be done on those homes from being closed all winter - bet most islanders won’t do that. No they will charge three times the amount as they always do. Greed is so much of the island way and it will end and people will abandon their homes and we will suffer greatly. You will be begging for the hated summer residents band their money very soon. What a shame.
The old question? What about
Lorraine EdgartownThe old question? What about this pandemic don't you get? Bob S is correct. If you are traveling you are part of the problem. That may seem Draconian but that is what has to be done. Stay where you are. We all have to sacrifice. I would love to be on the island now for the summer, however, I will not, as I am hunkered down where I am. This is the protocol now being mandated, to the entitled, does not seem to apply. Do not expose me and mine to this virus, please, or any other person. Stay calm and carry on....this, too, will pass.
If you won’t listen to me,
Bob S.If you won’t listen to me, maybe you will listen to the president and ceo of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and the President of Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Again, traveling here during this epidemic is incredibly selfish and you are endangering yourself and the health and safety of those of us who live here. We welcome all visitors and seasonal residents 365 days a year, just not during a pandemic. Hopefully you all now understand. For those of you who claim it’s your right because you pay taxes and if it weren’t for the summer residents this island would somehow sink into the Atlantic, thanks for your incredibly selfish actions because this is exactly how corona came to our shores. I’ve heard the arguments, it could have been an off island service worker or an islander returning but in this case it was not. It is about numbers people. It’s about keeping the influx of people to and from mv at a minimum. Fleeing your cities for the “safer confines” of Martha’s Vineyard is beyond selfish. Stay at home people. Please.
http://nantuckethospital.org/joint-statement-from-nantucket-cottage-hos…
I see a tough thread of
Tessa Guimares Oak BluffsI see a tough thread of recriminations, but I'm looking for information about available services here. People, we are in this all together! MV Hospital has not released a Covid19 disaster plan, and, like the delayed reaction of our Federal government, the delays in preparedness will result in very very unfortunate deaths that will roll through our community. I pray not, but this appears inevitable! The head of the CDC is saying to expect, over time, as many as 40% of Americans to potentially contract this disease. The statistics I have seen report that about 20% of those infected need medical attention, and, from what I can discern, about a quarter of those need to be hospitalized. So, we have about 20000 residents, give or take, meaning about 8000 of us will become infected, which means about 1600 people will need medical attention, and, of those, about 400 will need to be hospitalized! 400 hospitalizations. MVH has only 25 beds, but only 3 ICU beds! The MVH has not disclosed how many ventilators they have but they have been asking contractors to donate medical masks. If we look at the Italy example, a worse case scenario indeed (but maybe not the worst), within 30 days, the country of 60 million people is experiencing many hundreds of deaths daily. In NY State, large places of assembly are being prepared for emergency medical field hospitals. The Javits Convention Center in NYC is being prepared to hold 4 field hospitals capable of holding 250 beds each. Why are we not hearing of preparedness plans like this on MV???!!!! Taking over empty hotels or motels? Using the MVRHS gym to stage a field hospital? Does the MVH have a tent set up to quickly separate possible Covid19 patients from other patients for intake and documenting for regular follow-up by Board of Health. Is there a central registry for our local safety personnel to regularly check in with possible infected folks who may self-quarantine to see if they are maintaining their health? If so, is there a list of folks who may volunteer to daily telephone what could quickly become thousands of Vineyarders infected and quarantined at home, overwhelming our Boards of Health? Where is our local emergency management team on any of this!? The public needs to know that everything is being done as the tidal wave approaches! Once again, the MVH administration is leaving our community in the dark! In contrast, every day, in a show of real leadership, Governor Cuomo is on TV giving a very complete report on what is happening and what NY State is doing to prepare. Our own Governor appears to be doing a reasonably decent job on this as well. I call on our local leaders to use these examples to follow through in a like manner. PLEASE! Get us ready!
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