For the second time in three days, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone reported on Wednesday that no residents of the county had died of Covid-19 in the most recent 24-hour period. While the number of people hospitalized with the virus rose to 73 over the same period — an increase of seven people — Mr. Bellone was upbeat in his daily video conference with media.
With Long Island tentatively set to enter the fourth and final phase of reopening next Wednesday, “our numbers continue to look very good,” Mr. Bellone said. “I can say it is a very good day because once again, for the second time in the last three days, I can report that zero people died in the last 24 hours. That is something I’ve talked about consistently, that from where we’ve been to where we are today is a world of difference.”
On Monday, he had noted the first report of zero deaths in the previous 24-hour period since June 12. He announced two deaths on Tuesday. "Certainly two out of the last three days is a good indicator of where we are and the positive direction we continue to move in.”
After a brief spike in the positive infection rate among those tested, from .7 percent on Monday to 1.4 percent on Tuesday, that rate was back to 1 percent on Wednesday, Mr. Bellone said. “That’s the number we’ve been at, or around, for a good amount of time now,” also “a very good thing. We don’t pay particular attention to any one day’s numbers, we’re looking for the larger trend.”
Another 42 people had tested positive for Covid-19 over the previous 24 hours, Mr. Bellone said, bringing the total to 41,427. The 42 new infections were among 4,047 tested. The total number of people to have tested positive for antibodies against the coronavirus is now 19,270, he said.
Those hospitalized in an intensive care unit fell by one, to 23. “We continue to hover right around this number,” Mr. Bellone said. Hospital beds are at 70 percent of capacity, a one-day increase of 3 percent, and I.C.U. beds at 57 percent, a one-day decrease of 2 percent. Six people were discharged from hospitals yesterday, he said.
Mr. Bellone also announced a July 7 webinar in which people can learn about starting and operating a food truck. “One thing we have learned very clearly is that outdoor dining has proved very successful,” he said of the gradual reopening of commercial activity. “The public really needs it, restaurants need it, it works well because it is safe, the outdoor environment is safe.”
Food trucks, he said, “are uniquely positioned to adapt to the challenges that are posed by this crisis, and to take advantage of the knowledge we have.” The county’s Department of Economic Development and Planning and the Health Department will jointly host the webinar, which Mr. Bellone said “will help educate participants on the steps and challenges new businesses may face.” The webinar, which will start at 10 a.m., will cover opportunities in the market, how to get started, permitting, business recovery success stories, and mistakes to avoid. Existing restaurants “may see this as an opportunity to branch into and extend their outdoor dining,” he said.
The pandemic “may open up new marketing and retail opportunities for startup and existing restaurants and food businesses” by offering consumers increased food options, locations, and convenience, Mr. Bellone said.
Those interested in participating in the webinar can register by clicking here.