Supervisor Calls For Travel Ban To East End As Coronavirus Spikes

EAST END, NY — Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell seeks a travel ban to the East End as the number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus cases continue to spike. Russell said he was joining with other East End supervisors in requesting that Gov. Andrew Cuomo "put a travel ban to the East End in place limiting travel to only essential personnel."

"Our resources are scarce, the risk of spread is too high for a town which is already seeing more than its share of confirmed cases and deaths," he said. "Southold should not be treated as someone's personal isolation unit."

Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, told reporters at a news conference Tuesday that anyone who left the Big Apple over the last few days may have been exposed to the virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, they should self-quarantine for 14 days.

People leaving the city may be behind an uptick in infections in places such as Florida and Long Island, she and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said.

On Wednesday, Dr. Howard Zucker, the state health commissioner, veered from that advice. "I would not follow that," Zucker said, adding that folks who've been in the city recently should continue following the guidelines set forth by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such as social distancing.

Social media was abuzz Tuesday with the recommendation that the crowds flocking to the far-reaches of Long Island, or, more specifically, the East End should self-quarantine, with a divide emerging between locals who feel their supplies are stripped bare and health services overburdened, and many second home owners who state that they have a right to retreat to their own residences.

Russell took a firm stance: Southold, the town where the first Suffolk County coronavirus case was identified, has been hit hard, with 111 cases reported in just over two weeks and six deaths at Peconic Landing, the retirement community in Greenport.

In comparison on the East End, Riverhead has 47 positive cases, Southampton, 40, East Hampton, 13, and Shelter Island, 2.

"The virus has put a tremendous strain on our resources. Our community residents continue to be the most at-risk by the spread of this virus," Russell said.

He added: "A new trend is taking place that puts our local residents at even further risk — people seeking refuge from metropolitan areas. It is simple math, the more people that come, the greater the spread and the greater the confirmed cases."

Southold Town, Russell said, has a limited number of stores trying to keep shelves stocked and ration out supplies.

"Local residents are finding it difficult to meet even their most basic needs," the supervisor said. "Unnecessary hoarding and the recent, sudden expansion of the population by those who come are making this far worse," Russell said.

Southold relies heavily on volunteer first responders who are trying to protect the community and their families, all while managing with limited protective gear, Russell said. "Their heroic efforts are under substantial strain," he said,

In addition, he added, the town's medical resources are overburdened and, "despite stellar healthcare facilities, they are reaching capacity which has the capacity of limiting access to local residents."

For those that have already arrived in town, Russell asked that they follow the federal guidelines to self-quarantine for 14 days.

"This town is in a crisis. It is bound o get worse and sometimes, draconian measures are necessary," Russell said. "A travel ban is one of those measures For others who have decided to use Southold as a shelter, respect this community and stay inside."

Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said he is "requesting the governor considers putting limits on nonessential travel to the East End. It is a suggestion, but not a demand."