Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone on Sunday afternoon announced in a local emergency order that schools across the county will close for two weeks beginning Monday, March 16.

Update: There remains one confirmed case of COVID-19 in East Hampton Town, County Executive Steve Bellone said Saturday during a press conference at about noon, as the number of cases in Suffolk rose to 37.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Town of East Hampton on Friday declared a state of emergency, canceled most meetings, and announced initiatives to allow essential government functions to continue while minimizing face-to-face contact and residents’ need to visit Town Hall and other town facilities. 

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo waived a key public education mandate on Friday afternoon, saying during a press conference that districts could choose to close if they wished and they would not be penalized for holding fewer than 180 school days.

A woman in her late 70s became East Hampton Town's first confirmed case of COVID-19, the town announced Thursday night.

Sag Harbor and Amagansett became the first school districts to announce closures in an attempt stem the spread of COVID-19 — Sag Harbor will close through March 22, Amagansett through March 29.

The family returned from Italy this week, had no contact with the Montauk School since their return, and will be in precautionary quarantine at home for 14 days.

A fire gutted an unoccupied house in East Hampton packed with boxes and debris on Saturday afternoon as firefighters were met with several unexpected challenges. 

The films "A White, White Day" and "Overseas" were two of the major competition award winners announced on Monday by the Hamptons International Film Festival.