Suffolk Coronavirus: Hospitalizations Down 3 Days In A Row

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Hospitalizations due to the new coronavirus decreased for a third straight day, Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone announced Saturday. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients fell by 24 to 1,538, according to Bellone.

As of Saturday, there are 518 people on ICU beds, down by three from the day before. Intubations also went down again. All three statistics went down three days in a row.

Suffolk County is at 26,745 people who have tested positive for COVID-19; up 1,200 in the past 24 hours. For the second straight day, there's been no update on COVID-19 deaths in the county, as Bellone said there's been a delay in getting the numbers from the state. The last reported death toll was 693.

Hospital capacity has remained relatively steady at 3,416 beds, with 774 of them available. Out of 739 ICU beds, 143 are free. The number of discharged COVID-19 patients increased by 123 in the past day.

Don't miss local and New York announcements about coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday New Yorkers would be forced to wear face masks when not social distancing. The mandate went into effect Friday night. Bellone said from what he's seen, Suffolk residents have followed the guidelines so far.

"Face coverings are likely something we're going to be living with for a good period of time now," Bellone said. "This is going to be part of whatever plans are ultimately put in place to reopen our economy as we start to move and are thinking about that recovery period. We're not there yet, of course."

Bellone also spoke on concerns that Suffolk County small businesses haven't received enough aid from the $2 trillion stimulus bill passed in March that allocated $349 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program. The Small Business Administration ran out of the funds Thursday, and Congress has since reached an impasse on expanding SBA funding.

"SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Paycheck Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program (including EIDL Advances) based on available appropriations funding," the SBA released in a statement.

Suffolk officials heard reports about the PPP, Bellone said, that some small businesses haven't had the same level of access to the emergency money as some larger businesses, including those that may not have needed the money to survive the coronavirus.

"Even before this crisis began, Main Street businesses have been hammered over the last decade or more," Bellone said. "Now, to get this blow as a result of this global pandemic, it is so incredibly damaging for these small businesses. This help is critical. But the idea that the help that is so desperately needed might not be coming and might not be getting to the places that need it the most is wrong, and it is also deeply disturbing. I want to thank Senator [Charles] Schumer, because I know he is fighting that. I would urge Congress and the president before putting any additional money into the payroll protection program, which is desperately needed, no doubt, but make sure those dollars are getting to the small businesses and the Main Street businesses that desperately need it."

Cuomo on Saturday expressed his desire to reopen the state when the time is right but called for more federal funding so New York is in a position to do so.

"When you fund a state government, you're funding a state government to perform the functions you want us to perform, which is the reopening function," Cuomo said at a news conference. "I get it. I'll do it. But I need funding."

Total coronavirus hospitalizations in New York are at 16,967, the lowest in nearly two weeks; the high point was 18,825. Looking at the past three days, Cuomo said, a case could be made the state has passed the apex. On Friday, there were 1,915 new coronavirus hospitalizations; down from 2,253 Tuesday.

There were 540 state COVID-19 deaths reported Friday, including 36 from nursing homes. The number is down from 630 Thursday and hit its lowest total this week. Net intubations have also gone down for a sixth straight day, decreasing by 48 from Thursday's total.