Pleas For More Testing At LI Retirement Home Hit By Coronavirus

GREENPORT, NY — Family members who have loved ones living at Peconic Landing, a retirement community in Greenport that has seen six deaths related to the new coronavirus in recent days, are crying out for across-the-board testing.

Tony Spiridakis, whose mother Eugenia lives at Peconic Landing — he recently wished her a Happy 90th Birthday with signs outside her window since no visitors are allowed due to coronavirus — is livid, not with the team at the facility, but with lawmakers who he feels should be working to get everyone tested and all resources provided immediately.

"Where is Rep. Lee Zeldin?" he asked. "This is war. Lee Zeldin is always touting that he served. Where is he? Where are the politicians, to protect our parents?"

The staff at Peconic Landing, Spiridakis said, is tireless in their efforts to help. "They are heroes. They are the actual warriors doing the front line work. They love all the people there."

Spiridakis, whose father died last year and also lived at Peconic Landing, said his family was treated with compassion and care during those difficult days.

What he wants to know, Spiridakis said, is where lawmakers including Zeldin, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski stand on the issue of expanded testing to ensure everyone, including all members and staff members, at Peconic Landing, has gotten a coronavirus test.

"They should demand the tests," he said. "Where are the politicians who should be helping Bob Syron?" Syron is Peconic Landing's president and CEO.

Other family members are also concerned: "I wish we could get some communication on who is being tested," said one man, who asked not to be identified to protect the identity of his parents, who live at Peconic Landing. "We still don't know that and if workers have had contact with infected members. Are they tested? Peconic Landing's answer is that they are following state protocol."

In light of the six deaths and confirmed positive cases, family and community members sounded a cry for testing every resident and staff member at Peconic Landing.

Syron told Patch that's just not possible.

"We don't have the ability. We wish we could,"he said. "There just aren't enough tests. I have no control over it. If I could write a check to have every person tested, I would have written it."

The New York State Department of Health determines who is tested, he added.

"It's really hard"

Speaking about his mom, Spiridakis has tears in his voice: "It's really hard," he said. "She's a Queens girl. She told me, 'Honey, I'm going to die, and I know I'm going to die soon. I'm 90. But I don't want it to be from this."

He added: "She just lost her husband of 71 years last year. It's so unfair."

Spiridakis said he agrees with Syron that moving his mother would not be a wise choice, especially with coronavirus spread throughout the community.

"My only message is: Get these wonderful people help. Where are the politicians? If not now, my God, when? These men and women were the Greatest Generation. They did so much to help us — now we have to help them."

Officials speak out on testing issue

A media representative for Zeldin responded on Friday: "While the New York State Health Department makes the determination who is tested, the congressman has worked with the governor's office to expand and expedite the availability of testing, including at Peconic Landing. This has included securing approvals for state lab testing, private lab testing, semi-automated testing, and the opening of the first free drive-thru mobile testing site" at Stony Brook.

Zeldin said he has also encouraged the state to open another drive thru testing site further east for residents who have difficulty getting to Stony Brook. "People have been getting tested from Peconic Landing so I would continue to encourage anyone with symptoms or has come in contact with a positive case to call their medical provider to obtain a test," the statement read.

Bellone, when asked by Patch if there were a way to change the protocol and allow for expanded testing, said up to this point, the question of who is tested has been determined by the New York State Department of Health, which has tested on a priority basis depending on if an individual has had direct contact with someone who tested positive and whether they have met the strict criteria for symptoms.

Bellone said the situation has been painful for all the families who have loved ones in nursing homes or retirement facilities, but particularly Peconic Landing, due to "the outbreak that has occurred and the deaths have resulted. It's absolutely heartbreaking. Those families are in anguish," he said.

Families cannot even visit the seniors, who are in isolation, Bellone said. He added that the state health department and the county have been in constant contact with Peconic Landing.

Bellone said that because the virus has likely been in the community and the county for months, there was no testing done. "The reality is, the virus has been here for some time," he said.

Peconic Landing and other facilities have taken proactive steps even before the first case was confirmed, to protect members, including keeping staff segregated in different areas and ceasing visitation, something he said is "anxiety-producing and heart wrenching. But they are doing everything they can to protect the health and well being of everyone there," Bellone said.

Looking ahead, Bellone said he would continue to communicate with the state health department to protect the most vulnerable.

"If additional testing makes sense, I certainly will advocate for it," he said.

Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, when asked about testing, said the question of expanded testng came up on a call with Bellone Friday night. "They are willing to review it," he said. "It's not a guarantee that anything will change but they are willing to review it."

He added that Peconic Landing's staff "care deeply about all the people that live there. It's not about their business, it's about how much they care about the people."

Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming also said Bellone would ask the state for clarification on the idea of possibly "loosening prioritization" to allow for more extensive testing in assisted living and other facilities where seniors are living in close proximity. She said she would support a continued push for the New York State Department of Health for the capability to do that.

Equipment still needed

Peconic Landing, the Greenport retirement community hit hard by coronavirus, said the facility has received many "generous offers of community support through well-wishes and hard to find donations of personal protective equipment as we work to keep our members and team safe."

Peconic Landing thanked those who have helped to secure supplies so far, including Bellone, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook ELIH, PBMC Northwell Health, San Simeon by the Sound, East End Group of Yaphank, the Oysterponds School District, the Halyard, and Flavor Fields.

However, supplies are still needed: Peconic Landing continues to accept donations of PPE, including face masks, gowns, non-latex gloves, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, and other related supplies.

Number of confirmed cases among members and staff sparks concerns

Concerns continue to mount as employees are reported to test positive and the number of confirmed cases at Peconic Landing continue to rise.

As of Thursday, 13 Peconic Landing employees have been confirmed positive for coronavirus; six of those have since recovered, a release from the facility said. Initially, only three staff members were confirmed positive, but the increased number reflects a similar uptick in positive cases across the board countywide as testing ramps up.

Peconic Landing released information Wednesday about the current number of positive diagnoses amongst members, which stands at 13, as well as the six deaths reported.

"It's really hard"

Speaking about his mom, Spiridakis has tears in his voice: "It's really hard," he said. "She's a Queens girl. She told me, 'Honey, I'm going to die, and I know I'm going to die soon. I'm 90. But I don't want it to be from this."

He added: "She just lost her husband of 71 years last year. It's so unfair."

Spiridakis said he agrees with Syron that moving his mother would not be a wise choice, especially with coronavirus spread throughout the community.

"My only message is: Get these wonderful people help. Where are the politicians? If not now, my God, when? These men and women were the Greatest Generation. They did so much to help us — now we have to help them."

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