As of 5 p.m. yesterday we reported 6 new cases of COVID-19 on Nantucket. That brings the total number of new cases on the island over the past 10 days to 40. Of course any number of new cases is concerning, but we are pleased that we are not experiencing exponential growth in community spread.

But the recent surge means that, as of last night, the state has moved Nantucket into the “red” category on its community-level COVID data reporting web site. This indicates Nantucket is considered to be among the highest risk communities in the state for transmission. High-risk communities are defined as those having more than 8 cases per 100,000 people over the previous two weeks.

Our drive-through testing site continues to see a high-volume of patients, although we saw fewer people seeking out testing yesterday than the previous two days.

We are in lock-step with the Nantucket Health Department in its approach to bringing this surge of cases under control, and at this point we agree that there should be a surgical approach on enforcement and monitoring rather than the broader restrictions that were imposed in the spring.

We have been extremely pleased with the work that has been done by island retail merchants, restaurants and hotels to take the appropriate precautions and abide by the public health regulations, and we are not seeing clusters in those areas.

I want to emphasize how important it is to support one another during this time, and not resort to shaming or accusing others of being irresponsible. We know that hand-washing, physical distancing and wearing masks reduces the risk of transmission, but that doesn’t mean it eliminates risk entirely. Someone can take every precaution and still become infected, so we ask that our fellow islanders who have been stricken with this disease not be shamed or denigrated. No one wants to get COVID-19 or spread it to others. So let’s remember to support each other and lift each other up rather than getting bogged down in an “us versus them” mentality or looking for someone to blame for this surge.

The hospital has released a series of videos in English and Spanish regarding COVID-19 prevention on our web site and social media, so I encourage you to seek those out and share them in your circles. This week we also distributed our hospital care kits, which include masks, hand sanitizer, and informational packets, at locations around the island to get these resources to the segments of our community that have been most impacted. Additional assistance for those impacted by this surge of COVID cases is available from Nantucket Food, Fuel and Rental Assistance. You can find them online at AssistNantucket.org or by calling 508-901-1320.

Right now what we all need to do is return to the state of readiness and precaution we all had in the spring. Remember to wash your hands, stay physically distant, refrain from large gatherings, and wear a mask when you go out in public. If a contact tracer calls you, please be respectful and cooperate fully with the case investigation. This will help our community get through this safely and quickly, as it remains one of our best tools to stop the spread.

If you are experiencing symptoms, please come to the hospital drive-through for an evaluation. If you are a close contact of someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 – and remember a close contact is considered being within six feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes – please come to the hospital drive-through to be evaluated.

For those without symptoms who are still interested in being tested, we have a program at the hospital to apply for a testing appointment, so we ask that you go to our web site and register for a test rather than just showing up at the drive-through. The town has grant funds for asymptomatic individuals considered to be a high public health priority, including those who work in high-traffic industries. For all others who are low-risk or need to be tested for travel or other purposes, the self-pay fee for a testing appointment is $150.

Our hospital remains ready to care for your healthcare needs. We continue to implement strict protocols and safety measures within the hospital, with screening at every entrance and masks required for all patients, visitors and staff. I want to emphasize that Nantucket Cottage Hospital is safe, and we encourage everyone to continue to coming here for your routine and urgent medical care.

This week the hospital also launched our drive-through flu shot clinic. We would like to see everyone on the island over the age of six-months come and get a flu shot, as it is more important than ever this year. Flu symptoms are so similar to COVID, and we need to avoid a simultaneous surge of both of these illnesses and preserve our resources as best as possible. The flu vaccine is safe and effective and I encourage you to get vaccinated.

Your hospital is ready and prepared, and we all know what we need to do to stay ahead of this. Remember to support each other, stay positive, and stay safe. Thank you.

Gary Shaw

President and CEO

Nantucket Cottage Hospital