Coronavirus Outbreak At LI Voting Site Traced To Poll Worker

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — The Suffolk County Department of Health is shedding additional light on a coronavirus outbreak tied to an early voting site in Southampton and telling anyone who voted there between October 26 and October 28 to monitor for symptoms.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced the new cluster on Wednesday and said 10 coronavirus cases were linked to the site.

On Thursday, the Suffolk County Department of Health said they learned on Tuesday that a person who worked at the Stony Brook Southampton early voting site on Tuckahoe Road tested positive for the coronavirus.

"Subsequently, five additional poll workers at this location and four personal contacts of those workers have tested positive for the coronavirus," the health department said. "While the department does not believe there to be any additional community spread from this case, we advise individuals who voted early at this location from October 26 to 28 to monitor their overall health for COVID symptoms and contact their health care practitioner if they become symptomatic."

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

Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said Suffolk Health Commissioner Gregson Pigott informed him that the Suffolk County Health Department is not aware of any positive cases from people who voted at the site.

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. 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.

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.

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.