No Coronavirus Deaths In Suffolk For 2nd Time Since March

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — For the second time in 17 days, County Executive Steve Bellone announced that over the past 24 hours, no coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in Suffolk.

On June 12, Bellone announced that it was a "milestone day," the first time since the coronavirus crisis swept across the region three months earlier that Suffolk County had reported no deaths related to COVID-19.

"This has been one of the unfortunate things that I never could have imagined having to do — reporting deaths on a daily basis," Bellone said.

When he first announced the zero deaths on June 12, the county executive said he had hoped to share the good news repeatedly, but it took 17 days, until Monday, when he could announce the zero death toll once again.

The grim total of lives lost to coronavirus across Suffolk County as of Monday stands at 1,979.

"I do hope and pray that it will not be another 17 days for me to report zero deaths again," Bellone said. "Hopefully, we will continue to see, moving forward, that no one else has died."

As for the rest of Monday's numbers, a total of 33 individuals were positive for the coronavirus out of 4,481 tested during the last 24 hours, or .7 percent, a number Bellone called "excellent — one of the lowest we've seen."

The total number of individuals who have tested positive for antibodies is 19,074 countywide, Bellone said.

Hospitalizations have decreased by three, with a total of 72 patients currently hospitalized with coronavirus in Suffolk County.

The number of individuals in ICU beds has also decreased by three, to 23, Bellone said.

There are currently 3,052 hospital beds countywide, with 980 available, or 68 percent; there are 516 ICU beds in Suffolk, with 198 available, or 62 percent, Bellone said.

A total of 20 patients were discharged over the past 24 hours, a "very good number," he said.

Changes in Suffolk County transit

With the coronavirus numbers dropping dramatically, Bellone announced on Monday that Suffolk County transit buses will once again allow for front door boarding and in-person fare collection.

When the coronavirus first spread across the county in March, riders were urged to use the Suffolk County Transit mobile "fast fare" mobile app to pay; riders were also asked to board at the rear of the bus, with the first few rows left empty to allow for safe social distancing for drivers.

Residents are asked to still use the online mobile app when possible, Bellone said.

Passengers must also still continue to wear face coverings when on the bus, he said.