Suffolk Coronavirus: Sharp Uptick In Deaths; Free Daycare Program

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County saw a dramatic uptick in deaths related to the new coronavirus Friday, with eight new deaths reported, according to Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. And as Gov. Andrew Cuomo said schools would remain closed an additional two weeks, until April 15, a new, free daycare was unveiled for Suffolk County health care professionals and first responders, and others on the front line battling the war.

Bellone, whose mandatory quarantine ends Saturday, said he would continue to follow protocols and social distancing.

Bellone reported eight new deaths Friday, bringing the county total to 20. They include a man in his 80s at Stony Brook University Hospital on March 25; a female in her 80s at Huntington Hospital Thursday; a woman in her late 90s at St. Catherine of Siena; a man in his late 40s at Long Island Jewish Medical Center on March 25; a woman in her 80s at Huntington Hospital on Thursday; a woman in her 80s at Huntington Hospital Friday; a man in his 60s at Stony Brook University Hospital on March 23; and a woman in her 80s at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center on Thursday. All, he said, had underlying conditions.

The number of cases continues to rise countywide, Bellone said, to 3,385; 650 new positive cases were reported in 24 hours. There are 331 confirmed hospitalizations, a number that has more than doubled in three days. Currently, 119 are in ICU beds; three days ago, that number was 50.

New free daycare

With Cuomo's announcement that schools will remain closed until at least April 15, Bellone announced a new day care program, the Suffolk County Child Care Consortium, that's up and running for health care workers and first responders. The program will be staffed by trained childcare professionals.

Enrollment is on a first come first serve basis and will be limited based on space and staffing. Residents with any questions regarding the Suffolk Childcare Consortium should call Suffolk 311 or go to scopeonline.us to register.

“While closing the schools was the right thing to do to help contain the spread of the Coronavirus, one of our main concerns was the availability of childcare for our first responders and medical professionals who are on the front lines of this crisis,” said Bellone. “With this emergency childcare program, students will be able to learn in a safe environment, while their parents continue to go to work and help save lives.”

To qualify for the program, children must be between the grades of Pre-K to Grade 6. Throughout the day, children will be able to participate in a variety of activities, including completing their school’s distance learning requirements.

A list of participating school districts and locations can be found below. Priority will be given to the families of the school district in which the program is held.

· Babylon School District — Babylon Elementary School

· Commack School District — Sawmill Intermediate School

· Connetquot School District – Cherokee Street Elementary School

· Deer Park School District – John F. Kennedy Intermediate School

· Harborfields School Districts – Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School

· Hauppauge School District — Pines Elementary School

· Huntington School District — Jefferson Primary School

· Lindenhurst School District — Albany Avenue Elementary School

· Middle Country School District – Jericho Elementary School

· Miller Place School District — Andrew Muller Primary School

· Northport School District — Pulaski Road Elementary School

· Sachem School District-- Nokomis School Elementary School

Construction no longer "essential"

New guidance mandates that all non-essential construction must be shut down, Bellone said. Construction involving health and safety, including bridges and tunnels, can continue, but social distancing rules must be followed.

Suffolk County Police Academy Graduation

The 177th Suffolk County Police Academy graduation took place one week early this week, "with no ceremony," Bellone said. Instead of the traditional ride alongs, the class of 60 would go right out to help reduce the spread of coronavirus by breaking up public gatherings and protecting shuttered businesses.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart announced new Together Ensuring Compliance Teams that well perform compliance checks of businesses mandated to close as well as walk foot patrols in downtown areas and parks and remind residents of social distancing suggestions.

A the same time, Bellone announced that 18 Suffolk County Police Officers had tested positive for coronavirus, with one hospitalized.

Six of the graduates are fluent Spanish speakers; the group will will report for duty at their assigned precincts on March 30.

"The Suffolk County Police Department is one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the nation, and I want to congratulate the 177th recruit class on a tremendous job completing their classwork early," Bellone said. "Our first responders are on the front lines of this crisis, and today's graduates will get right to work helping to save lives and keep our residents safe."

No state-mandated coursework was skipped or abbreviated to accommodate the early departure from the academy. Recruits and recruit training staff worked a two-tour schedule for the past two weeks to complete all necessary classroom and hands-on training and qualifications, Bellone said.

“I would like to congratulate the recruits and thank our academy staff on their hard work and dedication to helping us complete training ahead of schedule,” Hart said. “Although it is disappointing we did not have a traditional graduation ceremony, it is critical that these new members join the Suffolk County Police Department on the front lines to battle this crisis.”

Thirty-five percent of the graduates have prior law enforcement experience while 25% have military experience. The academy also trained 21 recruits for outside and associated agencies, county officials said.