Curran: Additional Coronavirus Testing Coming To Nassau

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — As the number of positive cases and deaths due to coronavirus continues in Nassau County, Executive Laura Curran announced expanded testing in areas hit the hardest by the disease. During her daily press briefing on Saturday, Curran stated the total number of positive cases was up 1,033 from the day before, bringing the total to 33,798 positive cases in the county.

Curran then expressed the good news that the number of tests that came back positive has dramatically from the month before. A total of 24 percent of the tests did on Friday came back positive, which is down significantly from the 50 percent of tests that came back positive in March.

In additions, hospitalization is down for the 11th straight day in a row. On Saturday there is a total of 1,659, down 119 from Friday. The number ICU patients is also down 30 bringing the total down to 466. Ventilated patients have also decreased by 26 with 398 patients being ventilated.

On Friday, a total of 175 COVID patients were discharged from the 11 hospitals across Nassau County.

The total number of deaths increased by 40, bringing the total number of coronavirus related deaths in Nassau to 1,558

Curran then went on to talk about the push for increased testing, stating that she spoke with Northwell Health asking to do antibody testing for first responders. She also said there were plans to bring additional testing in areas in the county that have been hit the hardest such as Freeport and Hempstead. Next week, the county plans to also expand testing in Elmont.

Curran emphasized the differences between the viral test which simply tells someone if they are positive or negative for the coronavirus and the anitbody test which tells you if you have been exposed and are possibly immune.

She also addressed the price gouging investigation after an announcement on Friday that a Woodbury man was charged in federal court for hoarding scarce personal protective equipment — such as hospital masks, gloves and gowns — and tried to sell them at his Plainview store for a much higher price than what he paid for them.

"Unfortunately in any kind of crisis, people will take advantage of it make a quick buck, and we want to make sure that when people are anxious and they are losing their paychecks, they are not being taking advantage of," she said.

Curran said she believes this is the first federal prosecution of price gouging in this coronavirus time. In addition, he allegedly sold N95 masks that were expired.

However despite this, she said crime statistics have not increased in Nassau County, but in fact there has been a small dip in crime. On Friday, a Dunkin Donuts was robbed by a man wearing rollerblades in Hicksville and earlier this month, a Williston Park Dunkin Donuts was also robbed.

Curran emphasized the Nassau County Police is still patrolling and remaining vigilant during the crisis. She called out a Nassau County police officer who was injured after a crash involving someone involved in someone who was a part of an alleged car stealing ring.

"We're making sure that if someone is breaking the law, that we will come after you," she said. "This virus is putting a pause on so many things but it's certainly not putting a pause on our responsibility to keep our residents safe."