First Coronavirus Case Confirmed In East Hampton

EAST HAMPTON, NY — The first confirmed case of coronavirus has been reported in East Hampton.

According to a release from East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc's office, the woman is in her late 70s and is under mandatory quarantine and being monitored by the Suffolk County Health Department.

The Suffolk County Health Department confirmed late Thursday afternoon that an East Hampton resident is one of 21 Suffolk County residents who have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, the release said.

All cases to date in the county appear to have been community spread and not linked to travel.

On Thursday afternoon, officials from East Hampton Town and its villages, along with emergency responders and school officials, urged East Hampton residents to limit their person-to-person contact in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Residents have been urged to immediately practice “social distancing,” by doing business remotely, by phone or email rather than in person; undertaking only necessary errands or other tasks, and canceling group meetings or gatherings.

More cases of the coronavirus are expected, town officials said.

Community members are reminded to practice general health precautions and sanitary measures including frequent hand washing; the use of hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol; keeping one’s hands away from the face, sneezing into tissues that should be immediately discarded, keeping a distance away from those who are sick, and remaining at home if ill. Frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, tables, desks, etc., should be cleaned and disinfected regularly, town officials said.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc and other local officials said they would continue to coordinate with emergency preparedness officials, the office of the Suffolk County Executive, and others as actions are implemented, as necessary, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and will continue to inform the public of developments.