UK variant detected on-Island - Martha's Vineyard Times

Testing showed three samples tested positive for the COVID variant.

Three cases of the B.117 COVID-19 variant, known as the UK variant, have been detected on the Island, according to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital chief nurse and chief operating officer Claire Seguin.

Speaking to reporters Friday afternoon, Seguin said the hospital received results back for variant testing conducted by the state epidemiologist this week.

Four the six samples tested came back with three positive for the B.117 variant and one tested negative.

Since Wednesday morning, the hospital has reported 27 new positive cases of COVID-19 and has one patient in “fair condition” hospitalized with the virus.

The B.117 variant has been detected in other Massachusetts communities with 59 cases on the Cape, according to the Massachusetts COVID command center.

The hospital is working with the boards of health on whether additional variant testing should be conducted.

On Wednesday, hospital officials said the P-1 variant from Brazil has been detected in Massachusetts more than any other state, but the four samples they received back did not test positive for it.

In total, the hospital has conducted 16,019 tests with 827 positives, 15,230 negatives, and 60 pending results.

The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) has reported a total of seven positive cases of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is testing for COVID variants amidst the ongoing spike in cases the Island has seen in the past few weeks.