Long Beach Declares Emergency, Closes Library And Public Places

LONG BEACH, NY — Long Beach City Manager Donna Gayden announced Sunday that the city was declaring a state of emergency and would be closing most of its public facilities, including the library, to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus, as the first case in a resident was confirmed.

In a letter to the community, Gayden announced the state of emergency because of the new coronavirus. To help limit the spread, she said the city would be closing the Recreation Center, Ice Arena, Magnolia Senior Center and Martin Luther King Jr. Center, and all city-run recreation, youth and senior programs are canceled.

All Nassau County schools are closed for the next two weeks. In addition, the Long Beach library is also closing until further notice.

"These measures are being taken in an abundance of caution and are aimed at slowing the rate of transmission," Gayden wrote. "We each have a role to play in helping to make sure these efforts are effective, so I ask that everyone please do what you can to practice social distancing and limit our collective exposure to this virus."

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Gayden also confirmed the first positive case of the coronavirus in a resident of the city. The resident reported their case to the city and is currently quarantined. Their neighbors have been notified. Gayden said she did not have any more information on the case.

The city is also asking residents who need to pay bills, like their tax bill, water bills or tickets, to do so online by visiting http://www.longbeachny.gov/pay. If you need to come to City Hall, residents should call ahead first at (516) 431-1000. City staff will take as much information over the phone as possible and give them information in the lobby of City Hall to limit the amount of time residents spend in the building.

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