Number Of New Coronavirus Cases In Suffolk Tops 1K: County

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — As the number of new coronavirus cases topped 1,000 across Suffolk Thursday, County Executive Steve Bellone said if the uptick continues at the current pace, 1,000 people will be in the hospital with COVID-19 by Christmas.

At the peak of the pandemic, when Suffolk County was the epicenter on the nation, Bellone said 1,658 were hospitalized.

"The trajectory of these numbers is alarming," he said. "The post-Thanksgiving surge is here."

On Thursday, of 18,399 tested, there were 1,111 positives, or 6 percent, with 48 new patients hospitalized and a total number of 310 hospitalizations, county officials said. Three people died, and 25 were discharged, according to the Suffolk County Department of Health.

Unlike the spring, though, Bellone said the county now has the "blueprints" to flatten the curve. "When this started there was no playbook. We are in a different place now," he said.

Small indoor gatherings have the highest transmission rate of all, Bellone said. People tend to let their guard down when at gatherings with family and friends and fail to adhere to the social distancing measures that are being practiced in public, he said.

But those gatherings can prove dangerous and turn into spreader events, he said.

For example, in Suffolk recently, after a 21st birthday party with 10 guests, nine tested positive, he said. "That's how easily this spread is happening," Bellone said. "The second wave is here and we have to be vigilant."

Also in Suffolk, every single employee at a small solar company reportedly tested positive, Bellone said, adding that the public was not exposed.

"Social distancing guidelines are essential in beating back this virus and ensuring that our hospital systems don't get overwhelmed," Bellone said. "We do not want to go back to that place, with more restrictions. We want to keep our schools and businesses open."

While holiday traditions are cherished by all, with coronavirus posing a real risk, it is critical that people take precautions, remain vigilant, and celebrate differently this year, Bellone said.

Testing still remains the most valuable tool, with new sites open this week in Huntington and Patchogue, along with Riverhead and Hampton Bays, Bellone said. For information on all sites, click here.

"The message is simple: Mask up, Long Island," Bellone said.