New Coronavirus Patient Works In Greenport Retirement Community

GREENPORT, NY — Three additional patients were confirmed to have coronavirus in Suffolk County, bringing the total to four, and the Peconic Landing retirement community said it was notified by health officials that a per diem employee tested positive for the virus.

“The New York State Department of Health has just confirmed that three more patients have tested positive for COVID-19 in Suffolk County bringing the total number of confirmed cases to four," Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said Tuesday.

The first patient is a Brookhaven man in his early 20s who remains isolated at Stony Brook University Medical Center, officials said. The second patient, a Southold resident, is a woman in her early 20s who remains isolated at home, Bellone said. The third patient is a man in his 80s who is isolated at St. Catherine’s Hospital.

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Suffolk County communicable disease professionals are looking into who was in contact with the patients. The new cases were believed to be contracted through community transmission, Bellone said.

Peconic Landing is in contact with Suffolk County health officials and following their direction, the retirement community said in a statement. The per diem employee worked for Peconic Landing for four hours after unknowingly being exposed to the virus in the greater community, the retirement group said.

"Due to HIPAA regulations we are unable to provide specific information about the employee," Peconic Landing said.

Pending further guidance from the county Health Department, Peconic Landing took the precautionary step of placing employees who worked in close proximity with the infected employee on leave.

"We offer every assurance to our members, members’ families and employees that Peconic Landing will be following all recommendations and will act in the best interests of our entire community," Peconic Landing added. "Peconic Landing notified members of the situation this evening. Due to the timing of the notification by the Suffolk County Department of Health, family members will be notified tomorrow."

County officials continue to work closely with the state health officials to ensure a "swift and effective" investigation, Bellone said.

"While we continue to do all that we can to avoid a wide-spread outbreak, we are asking the public to do the same," Bellone said. "If you are sick, stay home and contact your primary care physician to avoid spreading any illness to others."

Meanwhile, Suffolk County's first confirmed coronavirus patient, a man in his 40s who works at the Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. in Peconic, is in "fair condition" and "improving," according to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital officials. He was treated at Eastern Long Island Hospital before being transferred to Southampton, officials said.

On Tuesday, the number of coronavirus cases in New York increased to 173 — up 31 from Monday — with a containment area established where the cluster of cases in New Rochelle is the largest in the country, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.