Updated 3:30 pm 

There were 97 new COVID cases reported last week and three new small clusters.

For the fourth week in a row, new confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased, according to the Martha’s Vineyard boards of health weekly report. The previous week there were 87 new cases.

The continued rise in new cases is a troubling sign for the Vineyard amid the spread of the Delta variant. Of the 97 cases, 44 are symptomatic, six have no symptoms, and the status of 47 was unknown. The new cases included 41 fully vaccinated individuals, two partially vaccinated, 28 unvaccinated, and the vaccination status of 26 was unknown. There are 81 cases still being followed by public health officials and 16 who are not.

Of the new cases, 69 were reported by the hospital, which tests symptomatic individuals, 24 at TestMV, which tests asymptomatic individuals, one at the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and three from other providers.

The new cases included every age category, but the most were in the younger categories with 26 in their 20s and 18 in their 30s.

There have been 232 cases reported in August, 19 percent of the 1,241 cases reported this year.

As of this week, there have been 17 new cases—16 on Sunday and one on Monday.

The three new COVID clusters came from Fine Fettle in West Tisbury (four cases), the Terrace at Charlotte Inn in Edgartown (four cases all staff), and Fishbones in Oak Bluffs (three cases all staff). 

Fine Fettle CEO Ben Zachs told The Times Fine Fettle is back open after briefly closing for the weekend. He said the employees that tested positive and were vaccinated experienced mild symptoms, but the adult-use cannabis store closed out of an abundance of caution and to test the rest of its staff.

“We’re back open with a smaller group, closing a little early,” he said. “No one wants to be closed in the busiest weeks of the year…you take short term losses for long term benefits.”

Gerret Conover, owner of the Charlotte Inn, told The Times the Inn is open and the cluster of cases was from the attached restaurant, the Terrace.

“We’re planning to reopen tomorrow with limited capacity for guests only,” Conover said. 

He said the employees that tested positive did experience symptoms, but he declined to say if they were vaccinated.

Michael Santoro, who owns Fishbones, said the restaurant closed due to a propane leak in the kitchen and had nothing to do with COVID.

The Island has now reported a total of 15 COVID clusters since the pandemic began. Alchemy (15 cases all staff), Port Hunter (four cases, one probable), Harbor View Hotel (six confirmed, four probable), an October wedding (eight cases), Cronig’s Market (19 cases), a Bible study group (11 cases), M.V. Hospital (five cases), Project Headway (four cases), King’s barbershop (eight cases), Shirley’s Hardware (all six staff), the Barn Bowl & Bistro (nine cases), and Cardboard Box (three).

A cluster is defined as more than two people from different families or households with a shared source of infection.

As of August 20, the hospital has administered a total of 23,918 COVID tests. Of those, 1,298 are positives and 22,612 are negatives. 

The hospital has one patient admitted in good condition, according to hospital communications specialist Marissa Lefebvre. The patient was admitted last week.

Since Wednesday, the hospital had two COVID related transfers both in fair condition.

The TestMV site has administered a total of 41,193 COVID tests. Of those, 429 are positives, and 40,764 are negatives. 

The town of Aquinnah has administered 656 tests, with four positive results.

The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) has reported a total of 23 positive cases of COVID-19.

There were 18 positive tests reported at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools, from a total of 16,122 tested. 

Due to how tests are conducted, there can be a discrepancy between the number of positive individuals and the number of positive tests reported.

 

Updated with comments from Marissa Lefebvre and updates on this week’s cases. — Ed.

35 replies on “Three new COVID clusters ”

  1. Covid19 cases/closings in the past 3 weeks:

    Edgartown: Alchemy, The Port Hunter, The Covington, The Wharf, The Newes Pub, The Harborview Hotel, 19 Raw/Prime, and The Terrace/Charlotte Inn.

    Oak Bluffs: The Ritz and Fishbones

    1. The pot store was closed, too. But the Fair was open to all– vaxed, unvaxed, sick, healthy, young and old. And you didn’t even have to wear a mask outside. Woo hoo. But let’s blame Obama because, you know, he’s Obama. It’s not like people going to the Fair bear any responsibility for justifying stupidity and ignorance, or that the Ag Society will bear any blame for the rising cases in the coming weeks. CDC says, “Avoid large events and gatherings” but they obviously left off the part that said, “…except if it’s the Ag Fair”.

      1. Exactly, Jacqueline.

        “CV Delta isn’t real until it happens to ME!!” And then it’s too late for YOU — and everyone you have spread it to who may not be able to survive it.

        Remember when the community of Martha’s Vineyard cared about values much more important than money? This community was a beacon of hope and the preservation of those values that actually save and sustain humanity — and THAT is why people of ALL stations in life came here:
        To realign with THOSE values. Anyone else remember those days??? Otherwise, this is just another place about greed — and THAT is a massive loss — for everyone. The “scene” here is beauty and realignment in NATURE.

        1. First of all, not entirely true, Scott — and that’s barely relevant. FYI, if an individual infected with CV Delta is within 6 feet of another human being, contamination is possible — no matter the vaccination status of either person — especially without masks. We live on a rural Island with a triage hospital of 27 beds and 3 ventilators. Our hospital is so overwhelmed, they have asked us not to come there unless it’s life or death. Since August 1st, we now have 264 new Covid19 cases ON Martha’s Vineyard. Covid19 is spreading like wildfire — and our community medical resources are ALREADY overwhelmed. The ensuing health disaster on this ISLAND is not difficult to project. PREVENTION. NOW.

        2. The Delta variant is so contagious. It is known to be transmissible outdoors in crowds where there’s no social distancing or masks. Have a look at the Gazette’s lead photo in their coverage of the Fair. There’s a shot of part of the audience watching the rope pull. This is a fine example of what not to do and how one person infected can spread the virus to any number of close by people in a crowd. I think I see 2, possibly 3 masks total in the photo of the close group of about 35 people. A few are definitely under 12 and we know they’re not vaxed.

        3. Also, check out Islanders Talk for first hand descriptions of hardly anyone wearing masks inside the fiber tent. Please don’t minimize the known risks people continue to take, and then wonder why we get more cases.

          1. Maybe you should take it up with Speaker Pelosi who was mask less enjoying a fundraising 10K- 30K luncheon with shoulder to shoulder mask less supporters. *if you’re so afraid of Covid, stay home. You have options. This is America, the home of the BRAVE and land of the FREE, atleast for now.

          2. Aw shucks, Annie Bradshaw. I bet you say that to all the elderly, immune-compromised, high risk, or vulnerable people. “Just stay home” is such a rallying cry, isn’t it? Is that how you respond to disabled people who require ramps and handicap parking spaces that interfere with the freedom of where you want to park or walk? Just stay home? There must be a new kind of American these days, one that has no concept that responsibility is the necessary consequence of freedom. Real Americans, you should know, Annie, find that view reprehensible.

        1. Annie, there is nothing remotely brave about vaccine fear-mongering, and yet that is exactly the kind of hysterical response we have seen from people who refuse to acknowledge medical facts. We’re called cowardly for wanting some precautions. Meanwhile the “brave” are hiding from Bill Gates (and adrenochrome).

          There’s also nothing brave about showing up at a hospital expecting excellent treatment for one’s own horrible decisions. These people know they’re taking a bed away from someone else and putting healthcare workers at greater risk than is reasonable. They just don’t care.

          Are you concerned with the freedoms of those hospital employees? What about kids? Don’t they deserve to be out in the world without the increased risk of getting sick and being hospitalized? Do you care about people who are already ill but might like to go buy groceries? Doesn’t sound it. These calls for freedom are always so narrow as to be useless and exclusionary. That’s nothing new in America, so I guess technically it is a patriotic message. Just not one worth promoting.

          The reality is that the anti-vaccine folks ARE free. They’re free to refuse the shot and hang around their own property without any protection. In theory, I fully support as much.

          But that doesn’t extend to public spaces where others have to deal with the consequences of said choice. No one deserves to walk into Cronig’s without a mask or vaccine out of stubbornness. That’s not a right. That’s a demand, and a childish one at that.

          And we all know these people are not staying home. In practice, they are everywhere, and that is the reason the pandemic is headed the way it is. So either be part of the solution or stop shutting down suggestions for how to handle the mess created by the irresponsible. Can’t have it both ways.

          1. Annie Bradshaw is making a point. The hysteria about what is possible but unlikley while the Dems namesake Pelosi parties maskless in Napa and the border is porous with infected people, makes people outraged with the hypocrisy. We dont want to be lectured to by the fearful sheltered on MV with apocalyptic messages of doom.

          2. ENGELMAN, it’s always refreshing to see that Trump supporters are capable of moral outrage over hypocrisy, feigned or real, and see them try to make a respectable point when Dem leaders prove to be bad role models. Obama’s party was also bad news, even though we know you don’t care because you said so over and over and over and over. But let’s be honest. Mustering up moral outrage over Pelosi– or Obama’s party– after undying support for the Chosen One who led 1/2 this country to believe Covid was a hoax (and that he, Trump, won an election he lost and thereby incited a mob to attack the Capitol) must be hard, so I have to hand it to you– and Annie and Tucker, and all the rest. But you get extra points for still trying to minimize the seriousness of covid risks here on the island. Are you back in Florida yet? I hear their covid positivity rate is, what, 20% now? It’s so bad that parents are defying your fine role-model governor and sending their kids to school WITH masks, (those hysterical parents). And Florida has the honor of overtaking their winter death figures, the first and only state in the union to do so. Have you booked your flight back home yet?

          4. So andy– you can find a few cases of bad behavior among democrats, and that makes anything you want to do ok ?

            Careful what you wish for.. It works both ways.

          5. Jackie– Andy is afraid to go home. He knows how bad covid is, and while he would never admit that the atmospheric scientist at the NHC might know a thing or 2 about hurricanes, i am certain he knows about the current possibility of a major hurricane hitting Florida next week.

      4. Soooo IRRESPONSIBLE of the Ag Society..angry about 400 at a private party….thousands passed through the Society in 3 FULL days….so sad for the Children who are susceptible and elders…

        1. There is no message of doom. “Get vaccinated and help us beat this to the best of our ability” is not a negative or fear-laced sentiment. It’s often been twisted because it’s easier to dismiss something when it’s made to sound unreasonable. Pelosi may be a hypocrite, like 90% of Washington, but that doesn’t lessen the effects of the pandemic or our need to deal with it. Taking precautions isn’t an approach based in terror. It’s common sense. When a country has overwhelmed hospitals and there is something that can help ease that burden, you do it. When a country has lost hundreds of thousands of its citizens in a single year, identify the problem and tackle it. You don’t let the issue fester. I don’t leave my stove on because I’d rather not burn down my house. That doesn’t mean I’m obsessed with the threat of fire. The only unnecessary fear I see is from people who want to spread lies about the vaccine.

    2. Pepper– an individual would have to have some serious mental issues– most likely racial– to
      blame Obama for any of this.

    3. Here I thought he’d get by on is pension and book sales. Didn’t know he took a job at:

      Edgartown: Alchemy, The Port Hunter, The Covington, The Wharf, The Newes Pub, The Harborview Hotel, 19 Raw/Prime, and The Terrace/Charlotte Inn.

      Oak Bluffs: The Ritz and Fishbones

    1. There were 26 unknown vaccination status – so it’s possible that there weren’t more cases among vaccinated individuals.

    2. edie–the simple answer to you question of why there are more cases of vaxxed people than
      unvaxxed is that in our community, more people are vaxxed than not.
      Unfortunately. since ignoramuses’ did not get the vacccine when they could, the virus mutated and became more infectious, even to vaxxed people
      There is a website called “google”
      you can find a lot of useful information there .

      1. I’d rely on the CDC, PubMed, or the website of well-known medical schools for information about infectious diseases. Google can send you down the anti-vax QAnon crazy hole pretty quickly, especially if your browsing history tells Google’s Al Gorhythm that you are partial to that sort of thing.

  4. Blame can’t be placed on any one event. The fact is that the Island has been incredibly crowded this summer with people from all over the country. And restrictions were lifted too soon, given what we know now about the Delta strain.

  7. Keep clear of indoor dining, but please continue to support our local restaurants through on-line ordering with curb-side pick up! And please tip well! These people are working hard under very stressful circumstances to provide you with service and meals.

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