Coronavirus

Some of the key takeaways from this week's news about COVID-19 in New York State, Suffolk County, and our South Fork communities.

Suffolk Transit buses are going cashless and taking other measures to increase public health safety as the effects of COVID-19 continue to grow.

Con el esfuerzo de proveer información acerca de la pandemia del COVID-19 a nuestra comunidad de habla hispana, el East Hampton Star está colaborando con la Organización Latino-Americana para traducir artículos al español.

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office released a list of those businesses considered essential while an executive order designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 is in effect. Businesses not on the list must arrange for all of their employees to work from home or cease operation by 8 p.m. Sunday or face fines.

"These are legal provisions; they will be enforced. There will be a civil fine and mandatory closure for any business that isn't in compliance," Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Friday as the state's virus cases topped 7,100.

Suffolk Legislator Bridget Fleming said on Thursday that hoarding food is unnecessary because supply chains that serve retail food stores are operating normally.

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.

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, East Hampton’s religious organizations have suspended in-person services, as well as Sunday school and all other gatherings and classes, trying digital streaming instead.

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.