North Fork Shop Owner With Coronavirus Says 'Stay Home': Video

SOUTHOLD, NY — Twelve days ago, Charlie Manwaring, owner of the Southold Fish Market, was sitting in his office, planning for the upcoming summer season, talking about job applications.

Life was normal. Until the new coronavirus changed everything.

Manwaring, in a new video he posted on social media, said he had two employees test positive for coronavirus. One is home right now and fine. The other, he said, is in the hospital. "I'm praying he's getting better every day," he said.

"And then there's me," Manwaring said. "I'm what all the scientists and government agencies are worried about. Because I'm perfectly fine, perfectly healthy, with no symptoms — and yet, I tested positive."

Manwaring said if an employee had not tested positive, he'd still be working. "Because I have no symptoms. I feel probably the best I have felt in two years."

While he's not afraid of the virus, he said, "What I'm afraid of is the older people in the community and spreading it to them."

And so, he turned to social media, posting a video and urging the community to stay home, practice social distancing, and wash their hands. Even those that feel great can be spreading coronavirus to those who are elderly or who have underlying conditions or compromised immune systems, he said.

As of Saturday night in Southold Town, 70 residents had tested positive for coronavirus, Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said. Across Suffolk County, there are 662 confirmed cases, County Executive Steve Bellone said; the spike in numbers is related to ramped up testing.

Countywide, there have been 9 deaths, including four seniors who died at the Peconic Landing retirement community in Greenport, Bellone said.

To protect others, Manwaring said people should distance themselves and stay home.

"I'm getting through it," he said, adding that he's been home for 12 days with his wife and children. "All of you that know me, know that I'm not one to sit around and do nothing."

But, he added, "We're all in this together, guys. We're North Fork strong. I know we'll get through this — Long Island, New York, America. We'll push through this and we'll be better than ever."