Nanticet is seeing a surge in Convent-19 cases, evidence of what officials say is the spread of the community virus among traders on the island.
There was a “slight increase” in cases when seven cases were confirmed on Wednesday, followed by the selection of seven new cases on Thursday, Don Hill Holdgate, chairman of the select board, wrote in a statement on Friday.
The new results brought the total number of cases on the island to 77, as of Thursday.
Holdgate “is the highest number of short-term cases we’ve ever seen in Nantucket.” Wrote. “While this is not an expected situation, due to the nature of the coronavirus, we can expect an episodic increase in the number of cases in the next 10-14 days.”
In a joint statement and video appearance, Roberto Santamaria, president and CEO of Gale Shaw, Nanticet Cottage Hospital, and the city’s director of health and human services, said 12 of the 14 new cases are among individuals living on the island.
“Most people who have tested positive work in occupations including landscaping, construction, carpentry and painting, as well as cleaning, and traveling to workplaces together,” Santamaria said. “This is an important reminder to apply the COVID-19 protocol to job sites and businesses.”
On Monday, the town will hold a joint emergency meeting of the select board and the health board to discuss possible options for renewing coronavirus restrictions for industries seeing an increase in cases. The town says it will conduct coronavirus-related inspections at construction and landscaping sites.
“We have responded to our mission to curb the spread of COVID,” Holdgate said. “As a result, our community – residents and visitors – needs to focus on embracing this boom.”
Authorities are closing Tom Nevers Park and potentially other town-owned parks and playing field from evening to morning in an effort to prevent further spread. Holdgate said police would “actively patrol” those areas and “request that those who are at these locations during this period be given leave.”
“Observations will also increase at various well-known gathering places, including private venues,” the chairman said.
Officials stressed that community outreach is important to protect the island’s high-risk population and prevent the hospital from overflowing.
Shaw and Santamaria urged any residents and visitors who receive a contact tracer’s phone call to “cooperate” and answer all questions “completely and truthfully.”
“Now is the time for everyone on Nanticet to take personal responsibility and do their part to keep your island safe,” Shaw said. “It takes the whole community to do this. We are asking the Nantuckers to compensate for the precautions and safety measures taken during the spring and summer. Maintain vigilance and wear a mask when you go out in public, keep body distance and hand washing as long as possible. We are asking you to avoid large meetings with people you do not live with and stay home whenever possible. ”
Anyone who has experienced symptoms of Covid-1 – or who has been in contact with a confirmed case – is asked to go to Nantucket Cottage Hospital Drive Thru for an assessment.
“Currently the number of people seeking testing in the hospital is very high, so please do not show it because you have had secondary contact with another person who has come forward in newly confirmed cases,” Santamaria said.
Holdgate said the current boom is evidence that a slight relaxation in measures to prevent the spread of the virus is “dangerous”.
“We have to limit contact with people we don’t live with, and we have to limit the number of people at gatherings – for a while,” he said. “Right now, we need endurance and commitment. It’s hard! The result is even worse. We have seen a lot of illegal gatherings in some public places. The current boom has led to restrictions on the soft behavior of a few people. ”
Read his full statement below:
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