Coronavirus

The near-total shutdown in commercial activity on the South Fork amid the coronavirus pandemic is now impacting an industry that in ordinary times would be in its busiest period of the year: landscaping. 

A new, ongoing program at Guild Hall challenges children to write original film scripts that can be performed and filmed remotely by professional actors, directors, editors, and designers.

Another 39 people have died from Covid-19 in Suffolk County in the last 24 hours, bringing the total deaths 362, Suffolk County Steve Bellone reported in his daily update on Thursday. 

Ensuring that businesses and residents comply with measures meant to stop the spread of Covid-19 remained at the top of the agendas for the East Hampton and Sag Harbor Village Boards this week. 

“Telehealth” and “telemedicine” are relatively new buzzwords — not a system born in the last few weeks, but one that the health care industry has developed widely in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This is different. This is worse,” Mary Bromley said. “We can’t touch one another. We can’t visit each other. Hospitals aren’t allowing family members to visit patients. This is going to be a long haul.”

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. 

Answering calls and making sure that police and E.M.S. get as much information as possible to ensure safety.

Suffolk considers targeted testing, messaging to reach non-English-speaking communities as Covid-19 fight continues.

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.

Chief Michael Sarlo said the officer, who he did not name, has been out since March 21 and self-quarantined after experiencing very mild symptoms.

Los fallecimientos debido al Covid-19 en el Condado de Suffolk aumentaron a 124 el sábado Suffolk, dijo el Ejecutivo del Condado de Suffolk Suffolk Steve Bellone durante su conferencia de prensa diaria. Veintiocho personas han muerto debido al virus en las últimas 24 horas.

A $50 million project will expand the hospital space by building climate-controlled tents on its campus, adding 1,038 beds to Stony Brook's capacity. The project is expected to be completed by April 18.

As supplies to fight the Covid-19 pandemic fell to zero, the Long Island congressman, who has close ties to the Trump administration, was able to reach the president's son-in-law to help speed 150,000 masks to Suffolk.

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.

According to the Department of Health Services, there were 9,560 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Suffolk County as of Thursday. There were 477 cases on the East End. 

The East Hampton Town Police Department is getting in touch with businesses that have remained open in spite of a state order intended to slow the spread of Covid-19.

The county passed another milestone on Thursday as the daily number of new Covid-19 cases passed 1,000. Hospital capacity is also increasing, with 206 new beds and increases in equipment and staff.

Their meetings are not without technical issues, but local school boards have ventured into the world of virtual assemblies and live-streaming on various platforms.     

The Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center is now offering child care at no cost to families of essential workers, including, among others, health care professionals, food service employees, utility workers, and first responders.  

“Our focus today is on what is true right now, to focus on the actual moment rather than letting the stories of your mind take you to a place that is not necessarily true,” Leslie Pearlman said in her virtual yoga class. 

Even as the hospital continues to marshal resources to deal with the virus, “We are not stopping any of the emergency services that we do,” Robert Chaloner, the hospital’s chief administrative officer, said by phone on Tuesday.     

Religious traditions and customary burials have been upended by the prohibition on gatherings as the coronavirus continues to spread. While the dead must still be buried, loved ones are somewhat stifled in their grief without being able to mourn as they normally would.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo last week clarified what “essential” means for contractors, halting most forms of construction through at least April 19 — school construction included. Districts in Springs, Bridgehampton, and Sag Harbor are bumping up against this order.     

As Warren Zevon’s song “Splendid Isolation” plays in my head I continue to cook, cook, cook, and explore our new world very carefully.     

The ban on restaurant dining during the Covid-19 pandemic has decimated the South Fork restaurant business, according to Mark Smith, a co-owner of the Honest Man Restaurant Group, and Jason Weiner, a co-owner of Almond in Bridgehampton. Both have had to lay off employees in order to remain finacially strong enough to reopen after the crisis has passed.     

After her grandson’s wedding in Italy was foiled by the Covid-19 crisis, Carolyn Snyder and her family, the owners of Round Swamp Farm in East Hampton, decided to spread some love here at home by delivering homemade soups and groceries, including chickens, eggs, milk, and pantry staples, to those who are housebound.     

Golf is apparently the last game in town, and, according to the head pro at Montauk Downs, Mark Fretto, new rules have enabled the beautiful public course there to remain open for play during the coronavirus siege.

Ed Porco and Joan Powers Porco, longtime residents of Montauk who more recently lived at Peconic Landing in Greenport, died last week of Covid-19 within four days of each other. They had been ill for two weeks.