Riverhead Town A Potential Coronavirus Microcluster: Supervisor

RIVERHEAD, NY — With coronavirus cases spiking across Suffolk County, the town of Riverhead has been identified as a potential microcluster, Supervisor Yvette Aguiar said Wednesday.

According to Suffolk County data, Riverhead currently has 1,038 coronavirus cases. As of Tuesday, Riverhead has had an average positive test rate of 4 percent for 10 days and if the town remains above 4 percent for two consecutive weeks or reaches a 5 percent positivity rate, it will be designated a microcluster, or red zone, Aguiar said.

A representative for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said neither Riverhead nor any area in Suffolk County has yet been designated a microcluster. He added the supervisor was being proactive in her outreach to raise awareness and urge residents to get tested for the virus. The county, he said, "is fully in support of her efforts" and said the goal was to do everything possible to bring the positivity rate down.

Under a red zone microcluster designation, houses of worship can operate at 25 percent capacity or have 10 people maximum; only essential businesses can open; only takeout can be offered at eateries; schools must close and follow the remote learning model; and mass gatherings are prohibited, according to state guidelines.

On Wednesday, Cuomo said the positivity rate in the state stood at 3.4 percent. On Long Island, that rate was 3.5 percent as of Tuesday.

The governor has laid out the metrics for the different levels of micro-cluster zones and explained what thresholds need to be met before a region receives that designation.

Aguiar said she was notified by Suffolk County that Riverhead was approaching micro-cluster status and urged all Riverhead residents to remain vigilant.

“With colder weather upon us, residents are spending more time indoors, within confined spaces," Aguiar said. “Suffolk County officials are working with us to identify and monitor clusters, and will be providing rapid testing in an effort to slow the uptick of positive cases in our area. It is crucial not to become complacent, as COVID-19 positivity rates are increasing dramatically across the United States."

Targeted testing

Aguiar added that targeted rapid testing could soon be available in areas where numerous cases have been reported and said robocalls have been going out to spread the word. That targeted testing will also take place in school locations, she said.

The rapid testing will enable the identification of COVID-19 within 15 minutes, she said. "Rapid testing is critical to controlling the spread," Aguiar said. "This is a great and proactive approach."

Also, she said, she has been reaching out to Spanish-speaking communities to raise awareness, as well.

She said the key to preventing the spread of the virus is testing and urged Riverhead residents to get tested at a number of available locations townwide. An outdoor testing site is expected soon, she said. For a list of testing sites in Riverhead, click here.

The goal, Aguiar said, is to test residents, find out who is positive, and allow them to quarantine so that Riverhead does not become a red micro-cluster zone.

The news comes a day after Bellone announced a coronavirus cluster linked to six employees of a Friendly's in Riverhead.

Also, the Riverhead Central School District announced this week that due to a rise in coronavirus cases, full-time, in-person instruction for kindergarten through sixth grade will not begin until Jan. 11.

Bellone warned recently that without immediate action, business reopenings could be rolled back.

"COVID cases are surging in Suffolk County," Bellone said. "We think the current spike is related to Halloween parties that were happening seven to eight days ago."

His comments came as the coronavirus rate across Long Island almost tripled in recent weeks.

"We've seen cases surge around the country and the world for some time now and despite the spike, we were able to keep these numbers down on Long Island and across New York," Bellone said. "We bucked the odds for an extended period of time and maybe we thought we could avoid the fate of communities that are putting restrictions back in place. We can no longer say that. We are no longer beating those odds."

If the numbers keep escalating at their current pace, Suffolk County could be poised to become a red zone, which would mean more restrictions, he said.

"We have seen countless places have to roll back their economic reopenings," Bellone said. "That is where we are headed — toward one of those cluster zones."

A positivity rate of 3 percent hasn't been seen in Suffolk County since May 25, Bellone said. The rate has remained at 2 percent or lower from June through November.

"What's happening here? Why are we seeing this pretty abrupt surge?" Bellone asked.

The answer, he said, is not only superspreader events such as a wedding at the North Fork Country Club, but small gatherings during Halloween.

So far, county officials are investigating at least one Halloween party and there may be others, he said.

Those small gatherings may not be in violation of the state limit of 50 people or fewer, Bellone said.

A Bellport birthday party fell within the state guidelines of 50 individuals but 36 of those who attended tested positive for the coronavirus, the county executive said.

"This is an example of what can happen at these small gatherings," Bellone said. "It's critical that we get this under control."

On Tuesday, Bellone warned against not just Thankgiving gatherings but also Thanksgiving Eve parties. He said Suffolk County's social host kaw, as well as the governor's 10-person limit on gatherings in homes, will be enforced.

Where to be tested in Riverhead

CityMD Urgent Care

999 Old Country Road,

Riverhead, NY 11901

(631) 284-5900

Suffolk County Riverhead Center

300 Center Drive

Riverhead, NY 11901

845-553-8030

ProHEALTH Urgent Care
1149 Old Country Road

Riverhead, NY 11901

(631) 740-9625

CVS Pharmacy

6221 Route 25A
Wading River NY 11792
(631) 929-6040

GoHealth Urgent Care Center

1842 Old Country Rd,

Riverhead NY 11901

(631) 830-4175