Suffolk Coronavirus: Drive-In Movies Coming To County For Summer

SHIRLEY, NY — As Suffolk begins a new month, County Executive Steve Bellone took time to reflect on the "hellish" coronavirus journey and promised that residents would be able to enjoy summer — complete with drive-in movie nights, the first to take place at Smith Point County Park.

The summer drive-in movie series will begin at Smith Point with a showing of "Jaws" on June 20, the 45th anniversary of the film's release; details about that event, and future movie nights and locations countywide, will follow, Bellone said.

Reflecting on the past months, Bellone said April was the worst, "hellish" month, with more than 1,000 losing their lives to COVID-19. May, he said, brought continued economic devastation and ended with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which has sparked protests nationwide.

Bellone said he was grateful to all the demonstrators in Suffolk County who have conveyed their message of frustration peacefully.

While the number of coronavirus cases are declining, Bellone said, "there is still so much pain and anguish out there, in the county, in our community, in the country. It's a long road ahead, the road to recovery will not be easy," but it is important, he said, to focus on the positive.

To that end, Bellone pointed out that despite being one of the hardest hit areas in the nation, Suffolk County has kicked off Phase 1 of the reopening plan for the economy and is moving into Phase 2 "as quickly as we can."

With a continued focus on the positive, Bellone said he was determined to make sure "people can enjoy summer," while still following social distancing protocols and wearing face masks.

The drive in movies, he said, are "happening."

As a child, Bellone said he saw "Star Wars" at a drive-in in Bay Shore and it is an experience his own children have not yet had.

Hospitalizations continue to decline

As of Monday, there were a total of 39,705 confirmed cases of coronavirus countywide, with an increase of 62. A total of positive 14,138 antibody tests have been reported, Bellone said.

Hospitalizations, he said, "are at a far better place today than at the beginning of May." As of May 30, the number of hospitalizations declined by 16, to a total of 253; the number of patients in ICU also declined by seven, to a total of 67 countywide.

Hospital capacity stands at 3,120, with 1,193 beds available, or 62 percent; there are 601 ICU beds across Suffolk, with 287 available, or 53 percent, Bellone said.

A total of 25 patients went home over 25 hours, and five additional patients died, bringing the total number of lives lost to 1,906.

New baby news

A second dispatcher at the Suffolk County's Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, Justin Russo, who is also a 10-year volunteer with the Farmingville Fire Department, helped assist in a delivery.

On Sunday at 2:24 a.m., Russo got a call about a woman in active labor in Brentwood, Bellone said; by 2:26 a.m. Russo, with "calm" and clear directions, helped to ensure the baby boy's safe delivery, he said.

Bellone thanked Russo, "a perfect example of the fine individuals we have serving our community as 911 dispatchers. The work they do every day, which mostly goes unnoticed — they are committing extraordinary and professional acts of public service."