COVID-19
The latest news, resources & information about COVID-19 on Martha’s Vineyard
LATEST NEWS
TestMV Continues to Offer COVID-19 Testing to Asymptomatic Islanders & Visitors; Fall Hours Expanded
To make an appointment, call or register online:
(877) 336-9855
To volunteer to help with testing, send us an email:
No-cost, drive-thru diagnostic testing for COVID-19 is available for any asymptomatic Islander or visitor who wants a test.
The TestMV site is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9AM-12PM and 1PM-3:30PM for online or call center appointments. TestMV recently expanded its fall hours and is now open Tuesday and Thursday for online appointments only.
Testing is by appointment only. Everyone must pre-register.
To make an appointment, call (877) 336-9855 Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM, or register online through our MyQuest portal.
- TestMV has expanded testing services to include children ages 5-17 years old, with parental or guardian consent. For more information on the testing of minors at TestMV, click here.
- TestMV is also open for re-testing. Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to the virus, or those workers with a high volume of public contact, should consider re-testing. Please check with your insurance provider or employer to ensure a second or subsequent tests are covered.
- Same-day appointments are available. Just stop by the site and complete the online registration process via your smartphone or other internet-enabled device.
Martha's Vineyard COVID-19 Statistics
Here are the latest statistics on positive COVID-19 cases on Martha’s Vineyard.
PCR Positive Tests
397 Male
401 Female
Age Range:
<20:
20-29:
30-39:
40-49:
50-59:
60-69:
>70:
Unknown:
141
140
192
115
110
63
33
1
28 Antibody Positive
22 Symptomatically Positive
26 Male
24 Female
Age Range:
<20:
20-29:
30-39:
40-49:
50-59:
60-69:
>70:
6
12
6
9
7
8
3
MVRHS Drive-Thru Test Site Results
Here are the latest cumulative results from the COVID-19 drive-thru test site at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.
MV Hospital Test Results
Here are the latest cumulative COVID-19 test results from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Town of Aquinnah Test Results
Here are the latest cumulative COVID-19 test results from the town of Aquinnah.
MV Public Schools
Here are the latest cumulative COVID-19 test results from the Island’s public schools (updated every Monday).
Source: Martha's Vineyard Boards of Health, MV HOSPITAL, Town of Aquinnah
Last updated at 4:30PM, January 26, 2021
*Each positive test does not necessarily represent a newly infected individual. For example, a positive test reported on July 1, 2020 by Martha's Vineyard Hospital was a second test for an individual who had previously tested positive. The Total Cases number reflects the most current accounting of unique individuals with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 on Martha's Vineyard.
Testing: Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get tested?
You need to register to make an appointment. You can call 877-336-9855, where there are also Portuguese-speaking agents. Or, you can register online through our MyQuest portal (English only). Online registration may allow you to make a same-day appointment if there is space available. In fact, you can drive to the test site and register there for same-day appointments if you have a smartphone or digital device. In both cases, you will be given a date and time to appear at the test site at the Martha’s Vineyard High School.
You must be asymptomatic and at least 18 years old.
How much does the test cost?
There is no out-of-pocket cost to you. All insurance providers are required by law to cover the cost of the test. If you do not have insurance, there are other programs to make sure the test is cost-free.
Is this an antibody test?
This is a test for active COVID-19 virus. It is not an antibody test.
What do I need when I call for an appointment?
Whether you call or register online, you will need to provide the carrier name and member number for your insurance provider.
If you don’t have insurance, you can provide your Social Security number.
If you don’t have a Social Security number, you can still be tested.
You will also be asked for your email and reliable phone number that you will answer when we call.
NOTE: If you are uninsured and/or you don’t have a Social Security number, you may be prevented from registering online. However, you can still register by calling 877-336-9855.
What do I need when I arrive at the high school test site?
Please bring some form of a photo ID. That can be your driver’s license, passport, photocopy of your passport, state-issued photo ID, school ID, or work ID.
Should I be tested for COVID-19 even if I feel fine? Why?
All asymptomatic islanders and visitors are encouraged to be tested.
Data show that a significant percentage of individuals infected with COVID-19 remain asymptomatic. Widespread testing helps public health officials to identify those who may unknowingly be spreading the disease and prevent or contain potential outbreaks.
Can I just drive up and Be Tested That Day?
Yes, if there are timeslots available. However, you still need to complete the online registration process onsite via your smartphone or other internet-enabled device. As a result, it may be easier to register online before you arrive. Same-day appointments are only available via online registration; it is not possible to make a same-day appointment over the phone.
What if I’m walking or on my bike or motorcycle?
No problem. Walk-up appointments are available via both the call center and the online registration system. Again, if you arrive at the site seeking a same-day appointment, you will need to complete the online registration process onsite via your smartphone or other internet-enabled device.
How does the test work?
When will I get results?
Results for TestMV asymptomatic patients will be available in approximately 5 days. First responders and health care workers can expect results within 1-2 days.
Results will be delivered as soon as possible through the MyQuest and FollowMyHealth patient portals, direct text, or phone message. We will update this page with any changes.
What happens if I test negative?
A negative test result only indicates that on the day you were tested, you did not have a detectable amount of the virus. It does not mean you cannot get the virus. And you should continue to follow the best public health advice to stay safe: keep six feet away from others, wear a mask when you cannot, and wash your hands frequently.
What happens if I test positive?
If you test positive, you will be called by a medical provider and then followed up by a contact tracer or your local Board of Health. They will answer your questions and guide you through the required minimum of 10 days of isolation. During this period, you cannot leave your home except to seek medical care.
We will also ask for the names of your close contacts to both trace and contain the virus. Testing for COVID-19 will be recommended to these contacts, and they will need to be quarantined for a minimum 14 days.
Your information will remain strictly confidential and treated in the same way as a private medical record. In addition, your name and information will not be shared with any contacts or other agencies, including immigration.
The contract tracer, likely to be either a public health nurse or a member of your Board of Health, will answer all your questions and concerns, and help make any necessary arrangements for food or supplies.
Will my Primary Care Provider be notified of my test results?
Can I get repeated tests?
What if I had an antibody test that showed I had COVID-19?
When will antibody tests be available on the Island?
Right now, you can get an antibody test in Falmouth.
Can teenagers or children get tested for COVID-19?
How do I make an appointment for my children?
Can an adult other than the parent / guardian accompany the minor being tested?
Can teenagers be tested on their own, without an adult?
Can my three kids be tested on the same day?
How does the test get administered to children?
How will I get the test results?
Vaccines: Frequently Asked Questions
I believe I'm currently eligible to receive the vaccine. How do I make an appointment?
- Review the “When can I get the COVID-19 vaccine” page on the Mass.gov website to determine eligibility
- Fill out and submit the COVID-19 Massachusetts Vaccination Attestation Form on the mass.gov website
- You will receive an email from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirming your eligibility—please forward the email confirmation to mvhinnovations@partners.org
- You will receive your appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine via email from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital
How and when will people know it’s their turn to get the vaccine?
Please review the “When Can I Get A COVID-19 Vaccine” page on the mass.gov website to determine eligibility.
What is the island distribution plan?
What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?
It may hurt a little where you got the shot. You may also be tired, get a fever, and have head or body aches. These side effects are good! They are signs that the vaccine is working and your body is building immunity. Very rarely, a person has an allergic reaction to the vaccine right after getting it. To keep these people safe, healthcare providers have patients wait 15-30 minutes before leaving the vaccination area.
Can the vaccine give me or my family COVID-19?
No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines being used in the United States have live viruses, so they can’t give you the disease. And because you won’t have the live virus, you can’t give it to your family.
How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?
Right now, there are two approved vaccines, from the Pfizer and Moderna companies. Both work the same way. The vaccines contain a small piece of the virus, usually a spike from its surface, or genetic instructions to make the spike. Getting the vaccine trains your body’s immune system to recognize the spike and kill any viruses with it.
How can a safe vaccine be ready so quickly?
For two main reasons. First, because of the pandemic, scientists all over the world cooperated on a single goal: find a vaccine as quickly as possible. Second, the U.S. government paid drug companies a lot of money—over $12 billion—so there was no financial risk for them to develop the vaccine. That meant that scientists could start each of the 4 stages of testing as soon as there was safety data from the last one. Creating new drugs is very expensive, around $1.3 billion per drug, so companies usually wait after each stage to figure out if the drug will pay for itself.
How long will immunity last?
I already had COVID-19. Do I still need the vaccine?
Who pays for the COVID-19 vaccine? What if I am uninsured?
Is there anything else I should know?
For a more detailed set of FAQs on the COVID-19 vaccine from the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, click here.
COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Symptoms of The Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
What Should I Do If I'm Sick?
If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call Island Health Care (or your primary healthcare provider) immediately. IHC patients should call 508-939-9358.
If you are sick with symptoms of respiratory illness, stay home except to get medical care.
IHC patients who have a medical appointment should call us ahead of time if you are experiencing these symptoms, or if you have traveled abroad recently. Do not arrive at IHC in person without calling first; otherwise, you may put others at risk for exposure or infection.
Call 911 if you have a medical emergency. Notify the dispatch personnel if you are experiencing fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. If possible, put on a face mask before emergency medical services arrive.
How Can I Protect Myself & Prevent Spread of COVID-19?
There is currently no vaccine to prevent the coronavirus (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus, and to minimize contact with others if you are sick.
The virus is thought to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.
Here’s how to protect yourself and prevent the spread of the virus:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Put distance (at least 6 feet) between yourself and other people outside of your home.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others (you could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick).