Even as he looked back on April as "a month of tremendous pain and grief" in which Suffolk lost over 1,100 residents, County Executive Steve Bellone also struck a hopeful tone in his press briefing on Friday afternoon, pointing to signs of "inspiration, strength, and resiliency."

State officials do not think it’s possible to reopen schools this year "in a way that would keep our students and educators safe.”

Suffolk County's number of new confirmed Covid-19 cases went up again on Wednesday to 844, contributing to a new total of 29,588, and an end to a three-day decline in new cases.

County Executive Steve Bellone acknowledged in Wednesday's press briefing that this was an increase from the 587 cases reported on Tuesday, which had been the lowest number of positive daily test results achieved since March 26. 

Pending positive identification, the body of the photographer Peter Beard, who disappeared from his Montauk property on March 31, was found not far from his house on Sunday.

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced an executive order requiring everyone to wear face coverings in public when social distancing is not possible.

Glimmers of hope, calls for continued vigilance, and a seven-state collaboration to develop a plan for easing restrictions.

Southampton Village Mayor Jesse Warren issued an executive order Thursday mandating the use of masks or other face coverings at village grocery stores and food businesses. The mandate is effective immediately.

Because of uncertainty about the resumption of traditional classroom instruction, the New York State Education Department has canceled Regents exams scheduled for June. Students must pass a number of Regents exams, high school-level tests, in order to graduate. 

While a slight leveling off of new Covid-19 cases suggests that the state may be approaching the apex of the pandemic, "Now is not the time to be lax," he said, calling on local governments to help enforce social distancing rules.