Coronavirus In Nassau: 2,800 Cases; Nursing Home infected

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — The number of new coronavirus cases continues to grow in Nassau County, jumping to more than 2,800 as of Tuesday. That includes more than a dozen residents of a nursing home who tested positive for the virus.

According to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, 2,869 people have now tested positive for the virus — an overnight increase of more than 400. That includes 18 residents of the A. Holly Patterson extended care facility in Uniondale. Curran said those residents are in two separate units, and none are on ventilators.

There was also another death yesterday: an 85-year-old man from the Town of Oyster Bay. It brings the county's total deaths to 10.

There have also been a spike in domestic violence cases, according to the police. Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder reported a 10 percent increase in the number of domestic violence calls the police have received over the same period of time last year.

On Monday, officials said Nassau County's public bus system will no longer charge fares. To help keep services running, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced that the NICE Bus service will be closing the front doors and having all riders enter and exit through the back door. This will help minimize contact with drivers. As a result, Curran said, the buses will not collect fares.

Even as Gov. Andrew Cuomo rebuked young people for congregating in public parks, Curran praised Nassau residents for staying home and doing their part to help stop the spread of the virus.

"I'm so impressed with how our residents are responding to this uncertainty in these unprecedented times," she said.

To keep up to date with coronavirus developments in New York, sign up for Patch's news alerts and newsletter.

Curran is also asking Transdev, the company that manages the buses, to track ridership every day. The goal, she said, is to make sure the county can provide bus service to people who need it most.

The county has also seen a spike in price gouging, Curran said. Stores are selling products like masks and hand sanitizer at highly inflated prices, and sometimes selling masks individually in ways they are not meant to be sold.

So far, the county has issued 34 violations to businesses, with some businesses getting multiple violations. Each violation is a $5,000 fine.

Throughout the week, Curran said the county has seen unprecedented numbers of people at golf courses. The state originally ordered the courses closed, but revised that order. The golf courses will reopen on Thursday. Parks are still open, but only for walking trails and exercising. Curran also said parents should not let their children play on playgrounds.

County owned and operated golf courses are located in Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, Bay Park Bay Park on the South Shore in East Rockaway, Cantiague Park in Hicksville, Christopher Morley Park on the North Shore in Roslyn-North Hills and North Woodmere Park on the South Shore in North Woodmere.

The Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office will be enforcing the rule that non-essential businesses most close. Inspectors have already been to businesses that were open when they should not have been. If a business does not know whether or not they can be open, the owner can call 516-742-3170 for guidance. Businesses that are open when they should be closed could be fined $5,000.

On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he would be signing an executive order mandating that all hospitals in the state increase their capacity by at least 50 percent, with the goal of increasing it by 100 percent if possible.

"I think it's unreasonable to say to every hospital, double your capacity," Cuomo said. "I don't think it's unreasonable to say, try to reach a 100 percent increase, but you must reach a 50 percent increase."

New York now has more cases than any other state, by a wide margin. As of Tuesday morning, New York had 25,665 confirmed cases. But New York is also doing more tests than any other state, Cuomo said. As of Sunday, the state is testing more than 16,000 people daily.

The state is also testing new treatments for the virus. Clinical trials are beginning on Tuesday for Hydroxychloroquine and Zithromax, which President Donald Trump has touted as possible treatments for the virus. The state is also beginning to use antibodies from people who have recovered to treat those with the virus. Both experimental treatments will only be used on dire patients.

Cuomo said the state is also starting to look at how to restart the economy, but did not give any specifics on what that would entail.

"I take total responsibility for shutting off the economy," he said. "But we also have to start to plan the pivot back to economic functionality."

The state is also working to send personal protective equipment to various regions. Long Island hospitals will be receiving 33,976 n-95 masks, 86,170 surgical masks, 35,350 pairs of gloves, 14,512 gowns and 19,709 face shields.

Coronavirus in New York

• Cuomo Sets Sights On Reducing Young People In Parks
• Nassau County Releases Map To Track Coronavirus Cases
• Baby With New Heart Quarantined: Why Staying Home Saves Lives
• Community Feeds Hungry Children After Coronavirus Closes Schools
• New York State Of Emergency: What Does It Mean And Why?
• Doctors Use Tents, Car Exams, Hotlines To Prevent Coronavirus Spread
• Businesses Modify Practices Amid COVID-19 Worries
• Coronavirus: Expert Explains Cluster, Containment, Testing