Live, in-person graduation ceremonies and professional baseball with fans in seats may happen this summer, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said on Friday, as Covid-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to trend downward in the county.
Eighty-six new positive cases of Covid-19 were reported in the 24-hour period ending Wednesday, Mr. Bellone said, bringing the total countywide to 40,239. Another 15,080 have tested positive for antibodies against the virus, he said.
“Hospitalizations continue to go down,” he said, with the number hospitalized in the county due to Covid-19 infection at 213, a decrease of 12. That number falling under 200 “will be a real milestone,” he said. The number in an intensive care unit stands at 54, a decline of 2. Of 3,040 hospital beds, there are 1,008 available; of 576 I.C.U. beds, 242 are available
Two more people had died of Covid-19 as of Friday, Mr. Bellone said, one more than on Thursday, for a total in the county of 1,918. Twenty-four people had been discharged from hospitals.
“People are feeling a real sense of loss” about canceled graduation ceremonies, Mr. Bellone said during the call with reporters. “I can completely understand that. I know that watching your child walk across the stage and receive their high school diploma is something every parent thinks about and looks forward to, and every student as well.” While public health remains paramount, the state has “left it open to say this will be reviewed again in July, and perhaps this is one of those things that could be done later in the summer, that you could do a socially distant, safe graduation later in the summer. I appreciate that the state has left open the possibility.”
A template for a “safe, live graduation” with a limited number of people and safety protocols in place will be submitted to the state, Mr. Bellone said, crediting the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association for its participation in crafting the plan. “We came together to work because this was a priority for them as well.”
“If we can do this and we can do it safely, and I believe that we can . . . then we should do that. I’m hopeful that that will be able to happen later this summer.”
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo “has talked about, at length, what it would mean to be able to see sports come back, and how that would be a real shot in the arm, help lift peoples’ spirits,” Mr. Bellone said. “I couldn’t agree more with the governor, he’s exactly right.”
To that end, “I can’t think of something better that would help lift spirits here . . . than to see Long Island’s only professional baseball team come back online, the Atlantic League champions, the Long Island Ducks, back playing again. That would help lift peoples’ spirits and give families something to do. Some place to go that would be great, wonderful, healthy.”
The Ducks, who play at Bethpage Ballpark in Central Islip, “have come up with a safety plan with significant protocols in place,” Mr. Bellone said. “We have worked with them on doing this and think it’s a great plan, something we plan to submit to the state.”
In mid-July -- by which time, depending on metrics, Long Island is expected to have entered the fourth of a four-phase reopening of commercial and recreational activity -- the Ducks could play before a 25-percent capacity crowd. At that reduced capacity, Mr. Bellone said, social distancing could be maintained. “We thought about this the way we think about our beaches,” meaning that a face covering would not have to be worn when one is with their group, but would in public areas such as concession stands and restrooms.
New sanitation protocols would be in place, he said. “It’s an incredibly thorough plan,” he said, one he is “looking forward to getting to the state.”
Mr. Bellone also said that he was “very grateful” that protests against police violence and racism have been peaceful.