Health

The South Fork is caught up in a rapidly accelerating public health emergency as the COVID-19 pandemic moved from dire warnings two weeks ago to declarations of states of emergency in all of the towns and villages on the North and South Forks this week.

Many of us have suffered already from the warlike shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will all suffer in some way. If we learn from the record, however, we can take steps to minimize the impact.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo this week ordered schools statewide to close through March 31 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some districts here had already announced plans to close for two weeks. Many administrators believe the closure will be extended.

Suffolk County's first mobile testing site for the novel coronavirus is at a Stony Brook University commuter lot. Testing is by appointment and only for those who meet stringent criteria.

While most people have been told to stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19, first responders do not have the luxury of closing up shop.

Businesses of all sorts in New York State ground to a screeching halt this week, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced a near-total shutdown of commercial activity and ordinary life.

Shelter Island has its first confirmed case of the virus, which has already been reported in East Hampton, Southampton, Riverhead, and Southold.

In photographs, how businesses and residents reacted as coronavirus precautions began to take hold.

Many of East Hampton Town government's departments will reduce staffing to approximately 50 percent starting on Wednesday, but essential departments including the police, highway, buildings and grounds, and sanitation will continue to operate.

New York's cases neared 1,400 by Tuesday morning, with 97 in Suffolk County, including 2 in Southampton Town, 2 in East Hampton Town, and 28 in Southold, the county executive reported.

Restaurants were ordered to shut down their dining rooms, but many had already hastened to transition to takeout and delivery services in order to comply with social distancing recommendations. Here's a list.

Sag Harbor Mayor Kathleen Mulcahy said in a teleconference today that the Suffolk County Department of Health Services is planning a drive-in facility to test for the coronavirus in the county.

The airport itself has not closed and flights can still come in and out.

With the schools closed, many parents have begun navigating the world of homeschooling for the first time, and school districts have begun serving meals to students who take part in the federal free and reduced-price lunch program. 

East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc will offer an update on the COVID-19 situation at the town board work session on Tuesday at 10 a.m. The meeting will be broadcast live on LTV, but will be closed to public attendance.

The Suffolk County Health Department confirmed that a 70-year-old East Hampton Village man had tested positive for COVID-19 and is now under quarantine, Mayor Richard Lawler announced.

Courthouses throughout Suffolk County, including East Hampton Town and Sag Harbor Village Justice Courts, are closing amid the spread of COVID-19, but the case against Patchita Tennant, a former East Hampton CVS manager accused of trying to murder her boyfriend, will press on.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Monday morning that the governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have jointly agreed to close gyms, movie theaters, and casinos across the region, and restrict restaurants and bars to takeout and delivery service effective Monday at 8 p.m.

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.

In the interest of keeping our readers and our community informed about health-related matters, this week The East Hampton Star removed the paywall for all of its virus-related coverage, meaning that you can read these stories for free whether you are a subscriber or not.

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.

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. 

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

At least one East Hampton doctor has begun making house calls to the elderly, a new triage unit is being set up at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, East Hampton Town has closed its senior citizens center, a family in Montauk remains under a precautionary two-week quarantine at home after returning from Italy on Monday, and the Sag Harbor School District announced it will close through March 22.

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.

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 man in his 40s is being treated at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, and the brewing company has closed its Peconic location for a thorough cleaning. As of Tuesday morning, he remained the county's only confirmed case of the virus.

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 man who was confirmed as Suffolk County's first coronavirus patient on Sunday is improving while reportedly in the care of Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, and one person he had come in contact with is under mandatory quarantine, according to Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.

Seventy-three State University of New York students recalled from study-abroad programs were on a plane Saturday to Kennedy Airport, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a news conference at noon, and some could be quarantined at the Stony Brook Southampton campus.