Lupinacci On Coronavirus: 'We Will Get Through This'

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON, NY — The Huntington Town Board, at its Tuesday meeting, approved measures allowing officials to provide services remotely during the new coronavirus, including the use of Town facilities to alleviate pressures on Huntington Hospital, the Town announced. Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci also issued a statement on the Town's state in battling COVID-19.

"To say that these are trying times is a severe understatement, but we are doing everything we can to make sure that there is continuity of government and safety in the community," Lupinacci said in a news release.

Here are some measures the Town Board took in response to the coronavirus:

• Approved a license agreement with Huntington Hospital allowing the hospital to use a portion of the Flanagan Center to relocate and accommodate healthy, discharged, non-COVID-19 patients waiting for transportation to their homes. An area within the senior center at 423 Park Ave., Huntington, that has yet to be determined, will be used to meet the needs of the hospital as well as 15 parking spaces for three months, at no cost to the hospital. The Senior Center has been closed to the public since March 13 while meals continue to be distributed on Tuesdays and senior services continue to be provided off-site.
• Approved a 45-day contract with NICE inContact CXone@home software solution, which allows the Town to continue to provide remote services to the public. IT expects to start the roll-out of this software on Thursday.
• Declared an emergency to create flexibility in procurement, authorizing Lupinacci to execute emergency agreements, up to $20,000 in value, vital to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, also authorizing the extension of agreements for public work or the purchase of supplies, material or equipment by up to 90 days for all Town contracts set to expire by June 30.

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As of Wednesday afternoon, there are 1,105 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Town of Huntington — with 7,605 in Suffolk County altogether. There have been 53 deaths countywide.

"We have been forced to fight an invisible threat – this coronavirus – and it has tested our mettle as a local government and a community," Lupinacci said. "As our response was rolling out, I did see a lot of fear and confusion here in Huntington, but we were not alone. This unknown quantity that presented itself as our adversary has spread havoc starting with patient zero at its origin thousands of miles away all the way to our front doors. As the potential impact of this reality became clearer, our collected fear turned to resolve, as so often happens in times of crisis in America."

Lupinacci said the Town has done what it could to minimize the spread of the coronavirus, as have President Donald Trump and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

"Some of these actions may have been extreme, but when dealing with life and death, going to such heights is necessary, and I believe we will see the rewards of these measures in the coming months," Lupinacci said. "Social distancing, the closing of facilities both public and private – these all hurt, believe me, I know. But this too shall pass, and we will ultimately be stronger, smarter, and more vigilant in a way like never before."

A "disaster emergency" was declared in the Town of Huntington by Lupinacci on March 12, following Suffolk County's state of emergency declaration the same day. Several Town facilities were closed, including schools across Long Island.

Lupinacci encouraged residents to practice social distancing, "scrupulous" hygiene and following the advice of healthcare professionals.

"Make no mistake, we will get through this," he said.

Trump and the Coronavirus Task Force extended social distancing guidelines through April 30 in their 30 Days to Slow the Spread guidelines, which include staying home from work or school if you're feeling sick, or staying home and away from others if you're an older person or have a serious underlying health condition.

Lupinacci praised the local medical community, saying it has played an active role in the Town's response to COVID-19.

"Sometimes we forget how lucky we are to have some of the best and brightest medical professionals right in our own backyard," he said. "They will continue to be a partner with us until the very last case goes into remission. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to say thank you to all of them. A special thanks also goes out to all the other dedicated workers, who are facing the unknown to provide essential services in both the public and private sectors. You all know who you are, and I am proud of you. Thank you also to those who have donated their time, talents and necessary supplies to those most in need. It never ceases to amaze me how many kindhearted and generous people we have here in Huntington. We are a town with more than 200,000 people, but sometimes we see that it has not lost its ‘small town’ mindset. It’s just beautiful."

The supervisor wished those diagnosed with the coronavirus a speedy recovery, and mourned the lives of those killed by it.

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