Island Flu Cases Rise

The masks are gone and, predictably, viral illnesses are making a comeback. Late-season flu cases are spiking in Massachusetts (up 84 percent in the last week) as well as on Nantucket.

Elizabeth Harris, the infection prevention manager at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, told the Current that the hospital had confirmed 19 influenza cases over the past five days, after recording zero in the prior two weeks. And those were just the cases that were officially diagnosed with a laboratory test.

While the town's indoor mask mandate was lifted by the Board of Health in early December last year, the island's public and private schools just rescinded their make requirements two weeks ago on March 14. Despite the rise in cases, however, the state Department of Public Health considers influenza severity for Massachusetts to be low this week.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, flu was virtually eliminated from the island thanks to vigilant mask-wearing and social distancing, a trend that was observed across the country.