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.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo allows early medical school graduations, and County Executive Steve Bellone says Suffolk's supply of personal protective equipment has been depleted while the death toll has increased by 28 in a day.

A search was ongoing in Montauk on Wednesday for the artist Peter Beard, who wandered away from his house near Montauk Point on Tuesday night. Mr. Beard is 82 and has dementia, according to police.

As confirmed cases of Covid-19 climbed to 5,791 in Suffolk County, a second drive-through testing site has opened in Riverhead. The facility, operated by ProHealth, a New York-based medical provider, is the first on the East End. 

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said Friday that eight more people in the county had died from COVID-19. There are now 331 cases across Suffolk.