In light of the growing concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19), Nantucket Cottage Hospital has made the difficult decision to cancel the Be Well Kids Health Fair on March 22.

This decision was made following guidance received over the weekend from emergency preparedness and clinical leaders at Partners Healthcare regarding the hosting of events or conferences of any size in the hospital in light of the growing number of COVID cases in Massachusetts. While there are currently no cases on Nantucket, we are cancelling the health fair in accordance with that guidance to mitigate the potential risk of such large gatherings.

(March 10, 2020) In light of the growing concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19), Nantucket Cottage Hospital has made the difficult decision to cancel the Be Well Kids Health Fair on March 22.

This decision was made following guidance received over the weekend from emergency preparedness and clinical leaders at Partners Healthcare regarding the hosting of events or conferences of any size in the hospital in light of the growing number of COVID cases in Massachusetts. While there are currently no cases on Nantucket, we are cancelling the health fair in accordance with that guidance to mitigate the potential risk of such large gatherings.

We want to thank the volunteers of the NCH Pediatric Patient & Family Advisory Council for all the work they have done over the last six months to prepare for the health fair, along with NCH staff members and our community partners who were planning to participate. We anticipate bringing the event back to the hospital as soon as it is reasonable and safe to do so.

While this was a difficult decision, we feel strongly that it is an appropriate precaution to protect the health of our community, patients and visitors.

Nantucket Cottage Hospital is closely monitoring the outbreak caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and working closely with local, state, and federal health officials, along with infection control and emergency management professionals across the Partners Healthcare system.

Local Risk Remains Low

As of February 28, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reports there has been one confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in Massachusetts. The risk to residents in Massachusetts remains low.

Testing

As of February 28, Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory received approval to begin testing patients for COVID-19, in accordance with guidance from the CDC. Clinicians who have patients they think may have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 who meet the current CDC definition of a Person Under Investigation can contact DPH to discuss their patients and receive authorization to submit specimens for testing. Testing at the State Public Health Laboratory will speed up obtaining test results for Persons Under Investigation and expedite ongoing testing of any confirmed case in recovery. 

(February 28, 2020) Gifted vocalist Marc Martel will bring the music of legendary rock band Queen to Nantucket this summer as he joins the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra as the special musical guest for the 24th annual Boston Pops on Nantucket concert to benefit Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Tickets are available at NantucketHospital.org/Pops

Martel’s incredible talents were showcased in the Oscar-winning film “Bohemian Rhapsody” as he was chosen to be one of the voices of Freddie Mercury for the Queen biopic. Martel was previously tapped by original Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor to front their official tribute, The Queen Extravaganza, before setting out on his own in 2017 with The Ultimate Queen Celebration. His viral YouTube videos have generated millions of views, and Martel has appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” singing the Queen classic “Somebody to Love.”

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a warning this week about the potential for spread of novel coronavirus illness, COVID-19, in the United States. This was not unexpected, and the NCH infection control and emergency preparedness teams have been preparing for this possibility since we first learned of the outbreak in China. The outbreak has been continuing with rapidly increasing case counts in a growing number of countries. As part of the announcement this week, the CDC also broadened its highest level of travel advisory to include South Korea in addition to China.