CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION

Para informações em português clique aqui. Para receber as seguintes informações em português, use o tradutor do Google no topo da página e selecione português.

FREE TESTING FOR COVID-19 on Martha's Vineyard click here.

COVID-19 Flow Chart - what to do when you test positive or you are a close contact (1-18-2022)

COVID-19 Vaccine - local information

COVID-19 Vaccine - MA information

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ

STATE RESOURCES

24-hour state-supported COVID-19 HOTLINE - DIAL 211

COVID-19 MA Command Center situation reports

Governor's Plan for Reopening Massachusetts in Phases - May 18, 2020

“MA COVID Team” - if this shows up on you caller ID, please answer the phone to help the MA COVID Team Trace & Slow the Spread of COVID-19. Information shared during the call is strictly confidential and is treated as private medical information.  Contact Tracers will make sure residents are getting the medical attention and support they need during isolation and quarantine. 

Mask and Face Covering Order

New DPH PSA video on How to Safely Cover Your Face Outside of Home  A face covering may include anything that covers the nose and mouth, including a mask, scarf,or bandana. Health care masks (such as surgical or N-95 masks) should not be used and should be preserved for health care workers and first responders. Cloth masks should not be worn by young children under the age of two, persons with difficulty breathing, or those who are unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. Instructions on how to make a cloth mask are available from the CDC here.

• Your rights and protections while COVID-19 crisis exists, Immigrants health rights
• Self-guided symptom checker tool
• MEMA Public Resources Map
• Massachusetts Department of Public Health ( www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus).
• MA DPH case count - reports are updated daily at 4:00 pm.
• Mass Emergency Management Case Status Map
• Governor's Order  (updated March 23rd) - extended until May 18th
  • Definition of Essential Services 
• Travel advisory

FEDERAL RESOURCES

• Coronavirus.gov
• Presidential Order - extended until April 30th!
• IRS - info re 90-Day extenstion on tax payments

 Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ( www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov) provides detailed information and guidance:

• Symptoms
• Prevention - at home, at work, in health care setting, schools and childcares, community- and fait- based organizations, meetings, first responders etc.
• Social distancing means remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible. More information can be found on the Johns Hopkins Medicine website.
• Other definitions (Quarantine, isolation, controlled travel, public health order etc.)
• Special instructions for hight risk and special populations (older people, people with certain deseases, pregnant women, homeless)
• Travel Information
• CDC Posters - also see attachments at the end of this page

World Health Organization

LOCAL INFORMATION - DUKES COUNTY (Martha's Vineyard) 

Press Releases from the Island Emergency Response Team

Video Updates from local officials

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANCE

If you are sick and feel that you might need medical attention, please call your primary care provider. If you do not have a primary care provider, you can call the MV Hospital or either of the two island medical clinics listed below. Do not go to the hospital - you must call first! In case of an emergency - call 911

 

• Martha's Vineyard Hospital 508-684-4500
• Island Health Care 508-939-9358
• Vineyard Medical Care 508-693-4400
• If you need help accesing public health insurance please contact Vineyard Health Care Access Program
• Mental Health Services 24/7 Emergency Hotline available
• Hospice of MV

Physicians Letter

NON-MEDICAL ASSISTANCE - Voluneer Coordination Program: Care for Community

Sign up to VOLUNTEER here 

Organizations seeking volunteers can submit requests here

Emergency Response Fund - launched by Permanent Endowment Fund (see application criteria, consider donating if you can)

• Your rights and protections under COVID-19 Crisis

• Food Resources
• Housing Assistance
• Department of Transitional Assistance
• Unemployment Assistance Information
• Help with utility bills, internet, cellphones
• Resources for Elder Population
• American Red Cross Virtual Family Assistance Center (VFAC) to families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19
• Additional Resources

PUBLIC TRASPORTATION

• Steamship Authority - stay in cars
• Vineyard Transit Authority - rear door boarding on all buses
• MV Airport

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Martha's Vineyard Public Schools

• MV Regional High School
• Edgartown School
• Oak Bluffs School
• Tisbury School
• West Tisbury School
• MV Public Charter School

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Aquinnah
• Chilmark
• Edgartown
• Oak Bluffs
• Tisbury
• West Tisbury

ISLAND-WIDE AGENCIES

• Dukes County Government, Dukes County Registry of Deeds
• Dukes County Courts -  new Order concerning Court Operations 4-6-2020
• Dukes County Sheriff
• Dukes County Contributory Retirement System

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

• MV Community Services

•  

BUSINESS RESOURCES

MV Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for local businesses - please subscribe to the newsletter here and check out the Facebook

MA Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development ( Employee Benefits, Paid Medical Leave, Unemployment Information etc.)

What to do if you business has to slow down or close due to COVID-19

Guide to Workplace Rights and Responsibilities

Earned Sick Time Law

Non-profit Resources

LOCAL MEDIA

• MVTV
• MVY Radio
• MV Times
• Vineyard Gazette

Information about cancelations of events on the island can be found on MV Times website.

 

Island Health Departments contact information by town:

• Aquinnah       aquinnahboardofhealth@comcast.net
• Chilmark        boh@chilmarkma.gov
• Edgartown     mpoole@edgartown-ma.us
• Oak Bluffs      mlancaster@oakbluffsma.gov
• Tisbury           mvalley@tisburyma.gov
• West Tisbury  boh@westtisbury-ma.gov

 

Island Boards of Health, Emergency Managers, Hospital and School representatives are working together to provide the latest update regarding a new Coronavirus called COVID-19, first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, as well as to highlight the plans in place in our community to address any local implications of this virus. Island towns have been preparing for emerging infectious diseases for many years. While COVID-19 is a new virus, the coordination, communication efforts, and infrastructure around our public health preparedness is firmly in place.

Island Boards of Health are receiving regular updates from MDPH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on this rapidly evolving situation. The Health Departments and Emergency Managers are in regular contact with other town officials, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools to discuss status reports, directives and messaging for the community. In addition, we are participating in webinars hosted by MDPH, which offer updates and guidance for local health departments, school officials and other stakeholders in the community.

We are asking public and private businesses to help “spread” helpful hygiene and sanitization measures, by providing hand sanitizer, handi-wipes and signage to reinforce prevention strategies, including reminding sick employees to stay home. The Health Departments will also be contacting food establishments and providers to reinforce these messages.

Martha’s Vineyard Plan to Address COVID-19

The Island Towns have an Emergency Preparedness plan in place that encompasses assessment and response to likely public health threats (including pandemics) and other all-hazard emergencies that might affect the community.

This plan outlines the key stakeholders that would be consulted with to form action plans and work collaboratively with including Boards of Health, Emergency Managers, EMS, representatives from the Boards of Selectmen, Town Administrators, Police, Fire, Schools, Councils on Aging, Public Works Departments, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, Island Health Clinics, Red Cross and others as needed.

Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and Other Volunteers – Island residents with medical expertise, as well as those with non-medical experience, who assist at flu clinics and other public health and wellness events. These volunteers are trained (using the national Incident Command System) in their likely roles in a public health emergency. If COVID-19 adversely affects the Island in the near future, MRC and other volunteers may be deployed to assist in addressing the virus.

The Towns are continuing to monitor this situation, prepare information to keep Island residents informed, and provide any response that may be needed.

What Can You Do?

There are steps you can take to avoid coming into contact with viruses such as COVID-19 and Influenza (which is rampant at this time). Remember, it’s not too late to get your COVID-19 vaccination and flu shot.

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask. CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in a close setting people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

For information about handwashing, see CDC's handwashing website

For information specific to healthcare, see CDC's Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

For information in Portuguese visit the MA Department of Public Health

Flyers for posting attached.

Joint Statement from Martha's Vineyard Hospital and Nantucket Cottage Hospital

Martha's Vineyard Hospital and Nantucket Cottage Hospital are urgingresidents and visitorsof the islands to consider the limitations of our critical access hospitals during this unprecedented timeof pandemic.For your safety and to save lives, we strongly advise you to STAY AT HOME. The perception that the Islands are a safe haven are not realistic given the limited number of personnel, critical supplies and beds. Our systemwill not be able to handle the large number of infected patients from rapid community spread which is expected.For your safety and to ensure the safety of our medical personnel on the front line we need you to do the following: •We are asking you to stay at home•For those Island residents, only travel for the absolute necessities, such as food or prescriptions•If you come to the Island –you will only strain our limited resources, putting your life and others at risk•If you have a summer home here –we are asking you to stay at your home residence –we have limited bed capacity 25 at MVH and 14 at NCH –and that is already strained•We have limited medical resources here on the Island and they are dwindling rapidly•We will not have enough staff to care foryou or your loved ones•Our hospitals are virtually locked down to prevent the flow of people through the facility•We must act now –to prevent any further spread

Denise Schepici, MPH, President & CEO, Martha's Vineyard Hospital

Gary Shaw, FACHE, President & CEO, Nantucket Cottage Hospital