Coronavirus Cluster Linked To Suffolk County Voting Site

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A new coronavirus cluster is related to an early voting site in Southampton, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said Wednesday.

According to the Suffolk County Department of Health, there have been 10 coronavirus cases reported in relation to the early polling site, located at Stony Brook Southampton on Tuckahoe Road. Six of those people worked at the polling site, Bellone said.

All those who tested positive are currently isolating; there are 48 contacts associated with the site, Bellone said.

As the nation sees a surge in COVID-19 cases, Bellone warned that Suffolk County is also seeing an uptick and warned against gatherings that could spark clusters.

He pointed to a recent gathering of 32 Shoreham-Wading River students that led to three positive cases and prompted the Shoreham-Wading River School District to go virtual due to the large number of teachers who had to quarantine, Bellone said. Currently, 161 people are in quarantine, including 11 school staff members, 140 students and 10 household contacts.

"If precautions aren't taken, and even if precautions are taken," gatherings can lead to clusters, Bellone said. He said it's critical to contain the spread of COVID-19 so the region can continue its economic recovery.

Bellone said there's been a "steady" increase in coronavirus cases.

Suffolk County has not been below a 1 percent positivity rate since October 21; last week, the county averaged 1.5 percent. Hospitalizations, which had been averaging in the 20s, are now back up in the 40s, Bellone said.

Currently, 42 individuals are hospitalized countywide, with four in intensive care. Five were discharged over the past 24 hours, Bellone said.

With cold weather coming and the virus surging around the world, Bellone said people need to remain focused on preventing the spread of the virus. "We cannot afford to slide back," he said.