Villages

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.

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.

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.

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.

The East Hampton Library will host an online program for students beginning to think about applying to college.

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

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

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.