Nantucket Cottage Hospital reopened the doors of its main entrance to the public for the first time in more than a year yesterday after shutting down its drive-through COVID-19 testing site over the weekend that had been located in the main entrance portico.
To celebrate the occasion, hospital president and CEO Gary Shaw, along with Bruce Percelay, major hospital supporter and former head of its capital campaign, dressed up and served more than 200 ice cream treats to hospital staff from Percelay’s vintage restored 1966 Good Humor Ice Cream Truck on Monday.
“We wanted to do something fun to let our team know how much we appreciated all their efforts,” Shaw said.
Percelay added “anything we can do to put a smile on the faces of those who sacrificed so much for this island, is our pleasure.”
NCH closed its main entrance to limit unmonitored access during the COVID-19 pandemic and to launch one of the first drive-through COVID-19 testing sites in the state. Now, over a year and 33,000 COVID-19 tests later, the hospital has taken down the tents that provided testers protection from the elements and reopened the doors to patients. COVID-19 testing will continue to take place on an appointment basis inside the hospital.
According to Percelay, “Seeing the hospital staff enjoying themselves outside and socializing was indeed a breath of fresh air.”
