Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York State neared 1,400 by Tuesday morning, according to the State Health Department. On Tuesday afternoon, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said there were 97 current cases in Suffolk County alone, and three fatalities due to the virus.
East Hampton Town has seen two cases, with one of those in East Hampton Village, and Southampton Town has two as well. Twenty-eight patients in Southold have been diagnosed, as have two in Riverhead. There are no confirmed COVID-19 reports on Shelter Island.
All of Suffolk’s patients are adults over the age of 18, according to Dr. Gregson Pigott, the county health commissioner. He said 564 tests had been conducted in the county so far -- and that there has been a 17-percent “positive” rate among those tested.
The county executive emphasized the need for “social distancing” as an important way of mitigating the spread of the virus.
“The idea that there are individuals that are traveling and bringing the virus here, we are well past that,” Mr. Bellone said. “All of these are community transmission . . . In less than a week our whole world has changed, the way we live our daily lives. This is all about preventing additional deaths.”
The county is receiving $700,000 from the New York State Department of Health for its own health services operations. The county also transferred $500,000 from its snow removal budget to the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency services.
Mr. Bellone said a mobile testing center in Suffolk County is still several days away, but that appointments and screening can be requested already by calling 888-364-3065.
All civil service offices are closed, though applications for tests are still being accepted online.
County parks are still open, as are state and local parks, as part of Monday’s directives from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who is waiving all parks fees for the public.
Mr. Bellone encouraged residents to sign up for Smart 911, a registry that creates a medical profile for each person who signs up. First responders have access to that information when they respond to calls.
Stuart Cameron, the chief of the Suffolk County Police Department, said restaurants and bars face a Class B misdemeanor charge if they remain open to dine-in guests. Gov. Cuomo issued an executive order Monday declaring only take-out and deliveries are permitted.
Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the number of COVID-19 cases in East Hampton.