Among the 14 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Nantucket over the past two days was an employee of Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Below is an outline of the steps we are taking to protect our patients, visitors and staff.

As soon as the testing result was known, the employee was isolated while NCH Infection Control and Occupational Health began working immediately to identify any potential exposures and directing them to take the appropriate next steps as required by our infection control policies.

At this time, we are not aware of any other individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 as a result of exposure to this staff member.

The NCH Environmental Services team regularly conducts deep cleans of all hospital areas as part of our routine cleaning protocols, including the use of the hospital’s Moonbeam UVC disinfection robot which uses powerful short wavelength ultraviolet-C lights to destroy any microorganisms exposed to it.

Nantucket Cottage Hospital continues to screen all staff, patients, and visitors for symptoms, and requires hospital-issued masks at all times for those entering the facility.

We wish our colleague a safe and speedy recovery.

Is it safe to visit the hospital?

Yes. Nantucket Cottage Hospital is committed to creating and maintaining a safe care environment by testing all patients admitted to the hospital, requiring staff to attest to their health daily before working, requiring all staff, patients and visitors to wear hospital-issued masks while on campus, insisting on frequent hand hygiene, frequently cleaning the environment, and enforcing appropriate physical distancing.

How is the hospital tracing those who might have been exposed?

Our Infection Control team is investigating this case through intensive contact tracing, testing, and interviews. Those individuals who have been exposed have been contacted directly and we are facilitating testing for them if indicated.

If someone thinks they were exposed, what do you recommend?

The Infection Control team is reaching out directly to any individual who was exposed and will facilitate testing to those individuals if indicated. Anyone with a concern about exposure – from any source – should speak with their health care provider.