Fall 2023- The library has a limited supply of at home Covid-19 test kits. If you need one, please contact the Library at 508-693-9433 or ask at the Circulation Desk.
We kindly request that if there’s a possibility you have been exposed to COVID that you wear a mask when picking up the test kit.
Vaccine Bus returns November 6th, 2022. To make and appointment, click here. To read more about the vaccines available, please read MV Times article from 10.21.22.
Fall 2022- The library NO LONGER has at home Covid-19 test kits. If you need one, please contact the Town Hall who has a limited supply. (You may be able to get reimbursed from your health insurance if you purchase a retail test.)
Free at-home tests NO LONGER available to order from the Federal Government. For more information : Covidtests.gov . Program ends September 2nd, 2022, due to lack of Congressional funding.
If you do take a test at home, you can upload positive results to this website: rapidtestmv.org, however, it is no longer required. Please check local newspapers and Town Hall resources for information about the next local distribution of at home tests.
- Island’s Boards of Health (BOH) voted to end the mandatory mask mandate for indoor spaces in Dukes County on March 2nd, 2022. The mandate had been in place since November 5th, 2021.
- Dukes County is low-medium risk area in September 2022
- In general, caution should still be heeded within the community, especially with indoor gatherings, or crowded outdoor spaces, especially if you are or live with unvaccinated (including children), or immune-compromised family members.
- Avoid crowded spaces, especially inside spaces
- Stay home is you are feeling unwell
- Get tested if you believe you have been exposed or are feeling unwell
- Enjoy your outdoor activities and ventilate indoor space shared with non-household members as much as possible
- If you are fully vaccinated, heed caution with un-vaccinated friends or family indoors
- Even though fully vaccinated individuals can spread this new Delta variant, the risk is much lower if you are vaccinated. The MV BOH’s recommend individuals get vaccinated to reduce community spread.
Want to know about local vaccine availability? Click here
6/11/22- Certain provisions made under the Covid-19 State of Emergency remain in place, including flexibility with the Open Meeting Law until July 15th, 2022. Read the specifics on Mass Gov website.
Martha’s Vineyard Hospital’s website has everything you need to know about the vaccine rollout on island, including weekly updates on the number of people vaccinated. Check the website and the newspapers for updates about when appointments will be released. Booster shots are now available for those eligible, and children aged 5-11 were approved for their first shots starting November 2021. Vaccines are now being given via drive-thru. If you need assistance, please call the MVH Call Center at 508-684-4500.
- COVID-19 TESTING (Symptomatic) at the MV Hospital: Triage phone number to call (you do not have to be a patient to call): 508-684-4500 M-F 8am-5:30pm
- COVID-19 TESTING (At-home kits): Rapid Antigen test kits are available for town residents, supply dependent, at town halls and libraries. Test kits may also be available for purchase at local pharmacies, or see information above to order free kits from the federal government.
- COVID-19 TESTING (Asymptomatic and voluntary for travel): May be required for travel, leisure, or sports and is NOT covered by insurance. The closest location to MV that offers a rapid test that is also accepted for (most) travel is CVS in Falmouth. Ages 3+ can be tested. See website for booking, additional information, and considerations: https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing/voluntary-testing
- Local vaccine information & FAQs from MV Hospital
- MV Hospital- Vaccine roll out specifically for M.V.
- State vaccine information : Identification, insurance, immigration status etc. All questions answered here.
FEMA funds available to help cover funeral costs of a loved one who died from COVID-19. Please see the FEMA website for details.
Massachusetts State of Emergency ended on June 15th, 2021. See Mass website for archived articles, policies, and declarations regarding Covid-19 emergency.
Need rental assistance? (8/4/21) – Eviction moratorium extended at the federal level. Please see this link for information and contact details.
Is Covid-19 impacting your housing? Dukes County Regional Housing Authority is offering Covid-related rental relief. Check here to see if you can apply. (Upd. 3/7/21)
Call 2-1-1 for the Vaccine hotline. The call center, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be staffed by 500 operators who will help callers find appointments at vaccination centers near them. There will be both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking operators, and translation offered in some 100 languages, Baker said.
WBUR’s live Covid-19 maps for MA. See case counts, hospital capacity, vaccine doses and more in regularly updated graphics.
Want world numbers?
Check out this site, Oxford University’s Our World in data, to see how quickly cases are rising globally.
World Health Organization (WHO) : Maps, resource pages, research, warnings, travel information, and other global perspectives.
Updated 5/18/20- Re-opening plan details See Mass.gov website
As of 4/20/20, Self-employed and contract workers will be approved for unemployment benefits under Covid-19. Click link to check eligibility and apply for new benefits.
For districts and families struggling with access to education, WGBH (PBS channel 2) will be airing educational content between 12 pm-5 pm M-F and will have free resources available on their website at the WGBH Distance Learning Center.
Local information sources
Martha’s Vineyard Hospital: Daily Covid-19 testing reports & other FAQs
- Duke’s County Emergency Management webpage: Links for local resources such as M.V. Hospital, public schools, food assistance, town pages etc.
- MVTV: Watch local meetings
- M.V. Times: All articles on COVID-19 open to the public (no subscription needed.)
- Vineyard Gazette: All articles on COVID-19 open to public (no subscription needed.)
- WMVY Radio: Martha’s Vineyard’s radio station
Services to the community
- M.V. Community Services: COVID-19 resources for elderly, families, and those in need of any daily resources.
- If you feel like you need to go to the hospital for any reason, call first. (includes routine care) M.V. Hospital call in line: 508-684-4500 (M-F 8 am-7 pm; a call center will be answering outside of hours.)
- M.V. Community Services Emergency Services (Behavioral and Mental Health Services, 24 hours a day) 508-693-0032