EASTHAM — Elaine Lipton got a call from an in-home aide who’d arrived to cook dinner for her 85-year-old dad and found his home empty. The car was gone, but […]
Health & Healthcare
LOSING IT
With Cases Up, Wellfleet Again Imposes Masks
14-day Covid incidence rate is among highest on Cape Cod
WELLFLEET — Town officials imposed an indoor mask order for the second time on Nov. 17, after a meeting at which the police chief cautioned that the on-again, off-again orders […]
PRIMARY CARE
Outer Cape Lives in Health-Care Limbo
New patients wait six months for an appointment at OCHS
Jenny Muschinske and her husband moved from New York to Wellfleet in March 2020. Then, she got pregnant. Suddenly, finding a local doctor became urgent. She had been “seeing” her […]
MEDICINE
In Provincetown, a Family Fights a Rare Ailment
Research on Machado-Joseph disease honors Veronica and Mark Silva
PROVINCETOWN — For her family and friends, Veronica Silva’s 80th birthday party on June 15, 2012 was more of a living funeral than a celebration, recalled her son David Silva, […]
COVID-19
A Death in Wellfleet, as Case Numbers Gradually Decline
A total of 12 cases so far at Wellfleet Elementary
WELLFLEET — The number of new cases of Covid-19 was down slightly this week, according to the town’s health agent, Hillary Greenberg-Lemos, following the emergence of a cluster of cases […]
ANIMAL CLINIC
Please Don’t Eat the Ivermectin
Your dog may need it for fighting heartworm
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently sent a notice to veterinary clinics and retailers and asked them to post it for the public. The sign said, basically, “People, please […]
EXIT INTERVIEW
Health Director Says the Pandemic Didn’t Wear Her Down
For Morgan Clark, the regulator role was the hardest part of the job
PROVINCETOWN — After almost 10 years in the town health dept., including seven as health director, Morgan Clark is leaving town government. She’s going back to work for one of […]
AGING IN PLACE
Home Health Care Shortage ‘Critical’ on Outer Cape
Low wages and lack of workers push the limits
WELLFLEET — A few years back, when Geovana Pinheiro worked as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) for a client in Wellfleet, she commuted down Cape from Centerville, where she lives. […]
COVID-19
Wellfleet Reinstates Mask Order Following Cluster of Cases
The case count, at 31, has doubled since last week
WELLFLEET — Less than one week after the board of health issued a “code red” mask order, the number of Covid-19 cases in town has doubled. There were 31 active […]
PANDEMIC
Outer Cape’s Covid Infection Rates Remain Low
Those who got the Pfizer vaccine and are over 65, or at risk, can now get boosters
PROVINCETOWN — Three months after a steep rise in Covid-19 cases tied to Provincetown’s 4th of July weekend crowds, the number of cases on the Outer Cape is low compared […]
PREVENTION
To Stop Domestic Violence, ‘Just Keep Talking About It’
Advocates raise voices against the silence of abuse
Shirley Smith, co-founder of the Outer Cape Committee Against Domestic Abuse (OCCADA), was in court helping a woman who had asked the judge to order additional child support from her […]
THE EASTHAM RAID
DMT, a Powerful Hallucinogen, Makes a Rare Appearance Here
It’s ‘not your garden variety psychedelic,’ researchers say
EASTHAM — As people trickled out of the Eastham Public Library on Tuesday following a historical commission meeting, several could be overheard discussing the discovery last week by local police of […]
NOT SO RAPID
As Delta Wanes, So Do Easy Testing Options
Still, the choices appear to provide ‘an early warning system’
PROVINCETOWN — The Delta variant of Covid-19 arrived in Provincetown like a hurricane. There was fear, economic devastation, a news camera on every corner, even a catchy name: the Provincetown […]
PANDEMIC
Provincetown Tells Workers: Get Vaccinated or Be Tested
Eastham will also require tests of unvaccinated staff
PROVINCETOWN — Town Manager Alex Morse announced a new health policy for town employees on Monday: either Covid-19 vaccination or weekly virus testing will be required. The policy will take […]
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Unpacking an Outer Cape ‘Stigma’ Against Calling 911
Not seeking help or refusing transport to the hospital can have dire consequences
TRURO — “It never occurred to me to call 911,” said Millie, recalling her medical emergency in April. “Having a ‘stroke’ — it wasn’t in my vocabulary of things that could […]
