Coronavirus

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.

The East Hampton Food Pantry has adjusted its distribution procedure in light of the coronavirus situation.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.