Hospital officials confirm the 17th case of coronavirus on Martha's Vineyard, as Gov. Charlie Baker tells non-essential businesses to remain closed until May 18, saying it is too early to let up on restrictions.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday that the state stay-at-home order would be extended to May 18, while leaders at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital confirmed one more positive case of Covid-19 on the Island.
A total of 17 people have now tested positive out of 376 tests conducted by the hospital. There have been 356 negative tests and three are still pending. The hospital currently has no patients hospitalized with the virus, and reported no new transfers off-Island. Approximately 60 tests, or around 20 per cent, were for health care workers, according to head of nursing Claire Seguin. The hospital previously reported that one hospital employee has tested positive for the virus.
Hospital officials said one person has died who was treated on the Island for Covid-19 and transferred to a Boston hospital. But the cause of death was "not proven” to be related to coronavirus, spokesman Katrina Degadillo said in an email.
At a press briefing Tuesday morning, president and chief executive officer Denise Schepici expressed grave concerns about the coming season, urging extreme caution as summer arrives, bringing more people and visitors. The briefing was hosted by Ms. Schepici, Ms. Seguin and Ms. Delgadillo.
“As we look ahead to our summer months and consider what the opening of our Island would look like . . . I continue to focus on one word: density,” Ms. Schepici said. “We need to avoid large groups and gatherings for the foreseeable future.”
“We know the state is still concerned about the surge, and if the state is not over the surge, then neither are we,” Ms. Schepici also said. “And we cannot let our guard down.” All non-essential businesses in the
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported 1,840 new confirmed cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, and 150 new deaths. Statewide, there are more than 58,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, and 3,153 people have died.
Hospital officials also announced that they would be cancelling their three main summer fundraising events due to concerns about the pandemic. Those include the Sullivan 5K race that normally takes place in East Chop during August, the Windemere auction and the annual charity golf tournament in July.
“Many of you know a number of events have been cancelled for the summer, and that is the prudent thing to do for everyone’s safety, unfortunately,” Ms. Schepici said.
She emphasized her concerns about the overwhelming case numbers throughout the state, and said the Island must continue to take all extra precautions, especially as certain parts of the economy opened.
Under new guidelines Monday, five Island towns allowed one and two-man crews to get back to work.
At the briefing Tuesday, Ms. Schepici expressed outrage after viewing a photograph that appears on the home page of the Gazette website. The picture taken Monday morning of the ferry arriving in Vineyard Haven shows passengers exiting the freight deck, closely grouped in tight bunches, with only about half of them wearing masks.
“I was shocked and dismayed when I saw the photo on the front page of the Gazette of workers without masks on,” Ms. Schepici said. “We are worried about them.”
She added:
“Please, please wear a mask. We ask them to do this not only for themselves, but for everyone around them.”
Comments
Ok, this is getting a bit
Annie Bradshaw West TisburyOk, this is getting a bit ridiculous. One person has died from Covid but, but, but....it's not "proven" covid was the cause of death. Getting really tired of all the misinformation. Things don't add up
What things don't add up for
Kelce OBWhat things don't add up for you? You don't think more than 3,000 people have already died in MA from COVID? The hospital has done an excellent job of guiding our island through this pandemic. Your but, but, buts are irrelevant to my safety.
I have this horrible feeling
Salt EdgartownI have this horrible feeling we are heading for an iceberg.
It would be helpful if
JH in WT WTIt would be helpful if hospital officials were a little more precise in their language when describing the patient who was included in the “Covid-positive test count” and later “passed away while receiving care in Boston due to medical complications not proven to be related to Covid-19.” It seems this statement needed some qualification or perhaps the reporter could have asked some follow up questions. How long after they tested positive did they pass away? Did they have pre-exhausting conditions such as asthma or diabetes or a heart condition etc.? Were they elderly? Were they suffering from some other acute or chronic illness such as cancer? Whether it was intended or not, the statement could be interpreted to mean this person COULD have died from Coronavirus. But it could also mean the person died of something totally unrelated to Coronavirus (like a heart attack or cancer or even injuries sustained in an accident) but also just happened to test positive for Coronavirus. Considering Coronavirus is by far the most important thing in everybody’s life right now, and is threatening not only peoples health but our economy, civil liberties and our economy, I don’t think it’s time for our health officials or our press to so casually use such ambiguous language.
She would violate federal
DH WTShe would violate federal HIPPA rules if she shared any of the personal details you think she is “hiding.”
From HIPPA journal March 2018
JH n WT WTFrom HIPPA journal March 2018: “While PHI (protected health info) can include information such as names, addresses, and phone numbers, it would only be considered PHI if it was included along with health data. Deidentified protected health information is not protected by HIPAA.” In other words any health data that does not specifically include info about a patients identity is NOT protected by HIPPA. If you followed your logic then all the national and state statistics about the number of people infected by Covid-19, or who died from it, would be considered PHI and off-limits.
Thank you Ms. Schepici....
Susan Desmarais Oak BluffsThank you Ms. Schepici....
People...why is it so hard to listen to the experts? Come on, if not for yourself wear a mask for others who may not be as healthy are you think you are.
SSA....how about a no mask, no boarding policy!
The photo of people
JayEff EdgartownThe photo of people disembarking from the ferry unmasked and no social distancing is horrifying. I thought procedures were in place to reopen construction. If so, it should apply to the petri-dish ferry as well. The SSA should require masks be worn in order to board. What good does it do for someone to do all the right things at a construction site, and all the wrong things on a boat, with high-risk people aboard?
Last weekend the steamship
CH OBLast weekend the steamship employees themselves were not wearing masks.
It is time to start looking
BFIt is time to start looking at and being concerned with the outfall of the fear mongering!
People aren’t working!
People can’t pay rent or mortgages! Property values will plummet as houses are lost to foreclosures.
Because of the closures of stores, and processing companies, and people not having income to spend, those who produce our food have no outlets to distribute.
Hundreds and hundreds of animals, cattle, hogs, poultry , sheep are being euthanized.
There is no market for them and farmers can’t afford their keep.
Thousands of gallons of milk are being poured down drains daily.
Without cattle or poultry dairy products will be non existent!
Grains will not be harvested or milled without workers.
We are on the brink of a food shortage that will make the bread lines of the depression look like child’s play!!
Better start paying attention!!
No one is losing their houses
Ed EdgartownNo one is losing their houses or cars. All have programs set up to defer. The construction and landscaping and painting just started. So many landscapers are not even wearing masks. Its what was asked of them. This is what will explode the virus.. look elsewhere.. Maryland, Georgia, Florida.. What don't you get? This Is not normal for anyone. Go slow is the motto. If not then what happens for a few weeks if profit. Seems pretty selfish.
Calm down..
gina Menemsha/NYCCalm down..
Yes it is a critical time. & many food processors avenues are being stressed .. If only the general public plays by the rules it will be helpful.. I decided to stay in NYC vs flee to MV.. always a bit leery on the MVH capacity.. But it's essential that all MV residents take the restrictions seriously .. Have no opinion about the Constructions crews safety rules. but I'd focus on better totall Island enforcement of the stay in shelter rules ..better safe than sorry. & then smaller summer season can happen.. but will
Hasn't anyone ever heard of
HS Oak bluffsHasn't anyone ever heard of HIPAA?? They can only release the bare minimum of details on a patient. The CEO is spot on with her information and her concerns! The public needs to pay attention!
Please everyone be safe, wear
Mister K Oak BluffsPlease everyone be safe, wear a mask, gloves and practice social distancing. Many of my neighbors start arriving soon from points south and other parts of New England. Many in their 70's and 80's. This is there home too, I worry for them. I worry for all of us. As always, thanks for letting me vent.
Hospitals must use a code for
Ari Vineyard HavenHospitals must use a code for cause of death - and contributing factors. If you put Covid 19 on line one for code, you get reimbursement from Feds. Still plenty of room on form to list heart attack, stroke, cancer, obesity, kidney failure and so on, which are not reimbursed. Only line 1. Not being cynical but hospitals are short on cash too.
Why does mvh continue to tap
[email protected] obWhy does mvh continue to tap dance and deceive? the technicalities behind the death are irrelevant the fact is the death would not have happened without covid being present in the patients body.
Can the people coming to the
Uta Vineyard HavenCan the people coming to the Vineyard via car and walk-ons have their temperatures measured before stepping onto the Ferry???? There are gadgets that don’t touch you and will be held close your forehead (as the Doctors office does)
That doesn't do much good
DownislanderThat doesn't do much good when many people have no symptoms.
Woke up early to the sounds
Still Concerned West TisburyWoke up early to the sounds of leaf blowers all around us. Texted my sister in Vineyard Haven who wrote back that she just saw four men get out of one unmarked truck and start leaf blowing the neighbor's yard. Such blatant disregard for the public safety guidelines, or whatever the proper terminology is, shows a complete disrespect for the lives, health and safety of our neighbors, community and people on the front line. The hospital staff, the grocery store workers, our relatives, etcetera. We all want to work. We are all worried about the future. These kind of actions are not helping anyone. And also, hope the SSA came to it's senses about requiring passengers to wear face masks and social distance like the Hy-line did and also several airlines. Let's not be lulled into complacency.
If the vta and public
Gabrielle West TisburyIf the vta and public buildings are requiring masks, why isn't the SSA? Seriously? And they call themselves a lifeline? Unbelievable
Its a bad bug no doubt. But
Mvfrick EdgartownIts a bad bug no doubt. But how many people have had the H Influenza in 2020, how many hospitalizations and how many deaths?
Thatvwoukd be about 60 million, 300k and 60k in the us. This for a virus with a vaccine and a treatment.
So anlittlenperspective. We did not shutdown the global.economy for the HFlu nor H1N1 nor the bird flu nor 9/11 etc etc.
When the antibody testing starts you will see huge numbers of positives especially out of CA as the bug has been around longer than we thought but quarantining folks will only prolong the disease.
Elderly andnimmumo compromised, stay quarantined. The rest of us use COMMON SENSE and go back to work and your daily routines with some restrictions.
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