Suffolk Coronavirus: 'Epicenter' Death Toll 263; Morgues Expand

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — As positive cases of the new coronavirus in Suffolk County continued to climb Tuesday, the death toll rose to a "staggering" 263 and officials began to seek additional morgue space.

Suffolk County Steve Bellone said Tuesday numbers continue to rise, with hospitalizations up to 1,517 from 1,463 and a total of 15,553 testing positive. He said the county is the "epicenter" of the nation's coronavirus battle.

The number of deaths rose by 64 in 24 hours to 263, a "stark reminder about what is happening in those hospitals and why we are doing what we are," Bellone said.

• The latest number of coronavirus cases for every town in Suffolk

In other grim news, the county has had to think about morgue space, purchasing a mobile, refrigerated trailer to handle the mounting body count, Bellone said.

"I never thought I'd be in the position as county executive ... to be talking about morgue capacity, the space that we have there and the need to expand that space," he said. Currently, morgues still have space, at a capacity of about 70 percent, he said.

The "horrific numbers" are taking a toll, he said.

"Families are struggling with loved ones who are sick and dying, and not being there to care for them, to hold them and talk to them. Then, not to be able to go through normal burials and the following of faith traditions — we will not understand how deep a toll this has taken until this is long over."

There has been a drop in the number of patients in ICU beds from 546 to 506 overnight, Bellone said; countywide, capacity has increased to 2,393 beds, with 631 currently available, and 96 ICU beds available.

In good news, 73 coronavirus patients have been released since Monday and are home recovering.

Reaching immigrant communities

Bellone is set to reach out to communities with high immigrant populations, including Huntington Station, Brentwood and Central Islip. He said there will be targeted hot spot testing programs to provide free testing and guidance on social distancing and other issues.

Supplies still critical

Suffolk County just received 136 ventilators, Bellone said, adding it's important to keep the supply flow moving with a high rate of burn expected and the need for personal protective equipment ongoing.

"What is key is that the flow continue," he said.

When asked if Suffolk County has reached a plateau, he said it is important not to say "mission accomplished," but "stay the course," he said.

Police officers test positive

A total of 57 Suffolk County police officers have tested positive for coronavirus so far, Bellone said.

Highest death toll in a single day statewide

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that of New York's 138,836 cases, there have been 5,489 deaths. The death toll rose by 731 Tuesday, marking the largest single-day increase since the outbreak started.

"Behind every one of those numbers is an individual with a family, a mother, a father, a sister, a brother," Cuomo said. "There's a lot of pain."

Cuomo had good news, though, stating that although hospitalizations increased Tuesday, the three-day average was down, suggesting a plateau.

Locally on Monday evening, Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming said 30,902 people have been tested for coronavirus countywide, with 44 percent testing positive for the virus.

"There is some thought that hospitalizations across Suffolk County are going up at a slower pace," Fleming said. "It might be a good sign but it might be an anomaly."

She added that communities to the west have been hit hard, with "rather alarming numbers in the towns of Islip, Babylon and Huntington."

New innovations

Bellone also spoke of convalescent plasma and said plasma donors — those who have tested positive for the coronavirus and recovered — are needed by the Red Cross, Mount Sinai, and the New York Blood Center.

Huntington High testing center

New "targeted testing sites" are being set up for first responders, including a site at Huntington High School, Bellone confirmed.

Ninth death at Peconic Landing

A ninth death was reported Sunday at the Peconic Landing retirement community.

"With deep sadness, Peconic Landing reports a ninth death amongst our members in connection with COVID-19," the community said in a news release said Sunday. "Out of respect for the family, we provide the following information: The member was a 98-year-old woman of The Shores for Skilled Nursing. She tested positive on March 19 and passed away on April 4 while receiving care at Peconic Landing. She had known pre-existing conditions."

Sirens for first responders

On Sunday, Bellone called out for fire and EMS agencies to sound their sirens at 7 p.m. countywide to honor health care workers who are "putting themselves at risk, one shift after another, literally fighting for all of us and to save lives every day."

The response was "incredible," Bellone said, with people out, including his own children, banging on pots and pans, honking car horns and sounding the sirens. People are also making signs and putting up tributes on social media, he said.

"In a dark time for us, that was a really wonderful moment, a reminder of what community is all about," he said.

Supervisors consider rental restrictions

East End town supervisors, faced with an uptick in rentals, said they are considering possible restrictions or a ban on short- or long-term rentals during the coronavirus crisis.

Cuomo said on Sunday that he was unaware of any elected officials on the East End asking for people not to come out to their second homes — despite a letter signed by supervisors and mayors in late March asking him to consider just that, as coronavirus cases continue to sweep across Long Island.

At Sunday's press briefing, a question was asked about New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy telling residents not to go to their second homes on the Jersey Shore, and whether Cuomo would consider a similar measure for New Yorkers heading to areas such as the East End.

"I have not," Cuomo said. "I will take a look at the New Jersey order. But I haven't heard local officials raise concerns."

In late March, however, despite urging from East End supervisors for possible travel restrictions, Cuomo said, at an earlier briefing, that it was not in his plans even amid a spike in confirmed cases of coronavirus across Long Island.

When asked about a possible travel ban suggested by county or local officials, Cuomo said: "Counties can come up with whatever they want, but I don't have any travel ban on my agenda."