Coronavirus Causes Huntington To Issue 'Disaster Emergency'

HUNTINGTON, NY — A "disaster emergency" was declared in Huntington by Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci Thursday evening amid concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus. Some town facilities will close and additional measures will be taken to stem the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19.

"In an abundance of caution, the Town is temporarily closing some of our facilities to ensure vulnerable members of our community are not put at unnecessary risk," Lupinacci said in a news release. "Declaring an Emergency allows us to suspend competitive bidding procedures for the purchase of critical supplies and services, deny entry at any Town facility to individuals presenting symptoms or meeting the criteria of exposure for coronavirus, and appoint personnel to fill vacancies or perform emergency services and duties."

A state of emergency was declared Thursday throughout Suffolk County, which now has 20 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Thursday afternoon.

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These are some Huntington facilities affected by the town's emergency declaration:

Huntington Town Hall

Huntington Town Hall remains open. However, additional signage and a more thorough screening of visitors will be used starting Friday. Visitors who appear symptomatic will be denied entry to Town facilities. Residents are urged to use all available online services offered by the Town to avoid making an unnecessary visit to Town Hall. Residents should contact Departments directly with questions about services, applications or forms that are available online.

Residents may use the black mailbox outside the main entrance to Town Hall labeled "Town Hall Mail" to drop off mail for Town Hall, including tax payments.

Animal Shelter (Dog Shelter Only)

The Town of Huntington Animal Shelter, at 106 Deposit Road, East Northport, is closed to visitors and volunteers after an employee called in to report symptoms on Thursday, March 12; a thorough cleaning of the facility is in progress. Staffing is limited to the minimum required to be on-duty to maintain the care and feeding of the dogs. Staff will continue to take in new dogs to the facility, greeting drop-offs at the front entrance to the shelter during normal hours of operation. Calling the shelter ahead of your visit at 631-754-8722 is suggested but not required. The shelter is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, March 21.

Senior Division

The Town of Huntington Senior Center, at 423 Park Ave., Huntington, and Senior Division facilities will be closed indefinitely beginning Friday, including the Adult Day Care facility, the Senior Beach House, at 239 Little Neck Road, Centerport, and all Senior Clubs. Congregate Meals (frozen meals) will be available during normal hours for pickup at the Senior Center facility (employees will bring the frozen meals outside). There is no change to the Home Delivered Meal Program, Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP), or Residential Repair Services. Employees will be on-hand to answer calls from residents during normal hours at 631- 351-3253.

Michael Grosso, MD, chief medical officer, Huntington Hospital stated: "Our infectious disease and emergency management experts strongly support every public health effort to protect our population. Discouraging large gatherings is one of these efforts. Closing the Town of Huntington Adult Day Care Center for the time being is a prudent step. Our elders are an especially vulnerable population who should be encouraged to avoid crowds, while practicing good hand washing and taking the other preventive steps recommended by the CDC and New York State Department of Health."

HART Bus Fixed Routes & Paratransit

HART Bus Fixed Route Service and Paratransit Service remain unaffected. However, residents are urged to avoid riding HART buses if they have symptoms, or if they meet any of the criteria for exposure. Healthy people should only use HART for essential travel.

Huntington Highway Department

The Huntington Highway Department office, at 30 Rofay Dr., East Northport, is closed to walk-in inquiries until further notice. People should report road issues and submit service requests online or to 631-499-0444.

Parks & Recreation

Town parks are open but all permitted play at Town fields is canceled through March 31.

The Parks & Recreation Department canceled Saturday programs serving special needs people. The Dix Hills Ice Rink is closed until further notice, and all ice rink programs are canceled.

Registration for Project PLAY, originally scheduled for March 21, is postponed until further notice.

The following activities are canceled due to Suffolk County or School District facility closures:

• Creative Arts Workshops: Silas Wood School (S. Huntington School District) Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Signal Hill School (Half Hollow Hills School District) Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Adult Community Education: Dance Social at John Glenn High School (Elwood School District) Friday nights from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Yoga: Harley Avenue School (Elwood School District) Monday nights from 7:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
• Coindre Hall: Zumba, Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Strength to Go, Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m.; Pickleball, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Indoor Soccer League, Wednesdays from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Volleyball, Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Developmentally Disabled Programs: Maplewood School (S. Huntington School District) Saturday Recreation Program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesday Gym Program from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Teen and Young Adult Program Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Traffic Court

All Traffic Violations Bureau conferences scheduled for Traffic Court on Thursday, March 19 have been administratively adjourned until further notice; if your conference was scheduled for March 19, please wait until you are notified of a new date.

Youth Bureau

• The Youth Board’s regularly scheduled March meeting has been canceled. They will meet again in April.
• Project EXCEL's College Trip planned to Hofstra University has been canceled after Hofstra canceled classes.
• Project EXCEL canceled their Employment Program until April.
• Half Hollow Hills Library, in collaboration with REACH CYA, Drug and Alcohol Project and the Youth Bureau staff, have canceled their "Save A Life Start A Conversation" event on March 25.
• Youth Bureau programs taking place at various school district facilities were canceled.

With regard to the Drug and Alcohol Project:

• All screening of potential new clients will include screening to determine risk of exposure/spread.
• If anyone arrives for an unscheduled visit, they will be screened before entering the program.
• They have NOT canceled any individual or group sessions – in fact, they are using these sessions to include infectious disease education, mainly the value of handwashing and reasonable hygiene practices.
• Clients who have symptoms of respiratory illness are – as always – told to stay home, and the cancellation will have no negative outcomes (i.e. reflection on probation report, etc.)

Earlier this week, Lupinacci provided an update on preventive measures being taken at Town of Huntington facilities to prevent the possible exposure and spread of coronavirus, including more frequent cleaning and disinfecting of Town facilities, reminding residents they can access many Town services online at HuntingtonNY.gov, by phone at 631-351-3000 and by email, and urged members of the public and Town employees who are sick, showing symptoms of coronavirus or at-risk to stay home and call their doctor to schedule an appointment.

Information on services the Town of Huntington can provide over the phone, online or by email, as well as information and resources for communities, schools, businesses, healthcare professionals and individuals from the Red Cross, the CDC and Northwell Health Huntington Hospital, can be found here.

Here's the latest on coronavirus updates in the United States for the weekend of March 13.