Wealthy New England Summer Enclaves See Uptick In Covid-19

TOPLINE

Covid-19 has been rising at the fastest rate in months in New England summer destinations of Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Block Island and Cape Cod, though new case levels remain relatively low and some experts are unperturbed.

KEY FACTS

What To Watch For

Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard officials say they may expand mask orders, reinstate restaurant closures and end indoor dining if transmission continues to rise, reports WCVB 5.

Crucial Quote

“I think that we are in a good place if we can keep people mindful of the need to social distance and wear a mask,” Maura Valley, a Martha’s Vineyard health official, told Cape Cod Times.

Key Background

At the beginning of the pandemic, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and Block Island were worried about people escaping Covid-19 hot spots like New York, New Jersey and Connecticut by seeking refuge in second homes or rentals on the islands—moving Block Island to cancel all hotel and rental reservations and Rhode Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket to bring in the National Guard and state troopers, respectively, to enforce quarantine for out-of-staters, Forbes reports. 

Tangent

These islands have wildly different population sizes in the winter and summer: Martha’s Vineyard has 15,500 year-round residents and 115,000 summer residents, per the New York Times. Thus, their healthcare systems are not equipped to handle a global pandemic. Nantucket’s Cottage Hospital has no ICU and just 19 beds. 

Further Reading

COVID-19 cases climb on Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cuttyhunk (Cape Cod Times)

As Wealthy Depart For Second Homes, Class Tensions Come To Surface In Coronavirus Crisis (Forbes)

Summer travelers blamed for rise in COVID-19 cases on Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard (WCVB 5)

13 positive COVID-19 cases from Chatham party (Cape Cod Times)

Sewage testing indicates an uptick of Covid-19 presence on the island (Block Island Times)

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