County Executive Bellone tests positive for COVID-19
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D) tested positive for COVID-19.
The County Executive, who is vaccinated and has been observing mask mandates, is unsure of how he contracted the virus.
Bellone has mild symptoms and is currently not receiving any medical treatment.
“I hope this serves as a reminder to all residents that while we are making incredible progress in the war against COVID-19, we are not done just yet,” Bellone said in a statement. “I encourage anyone who is eligible to receive their booster shot to do so.”
At this point, no other members of his office staff or his family has tested positive.
Bellone said he feels in “good health and spirits,” according to the statement. He will continue to carry out the duties of the County Executive.
Meanwhile, the percentage of positive tests on a seven-day average in Suffolk County fell below 3% on Oct. 20, dropping to 2.9%, according to the Suffolk County Department of Health.
Local health care providers have been encouraged by the overall decline in positive tests, which they attribute in part to ongoing vaccination efforts.
The Food and Drug Administration provided emergency use authorization for the Moderna booster for a specific groups of people who were fully vaccinated at least six months ago. Those groups include: people 65 years and older; people 18 through 64 who are considered at high risk; and people 18 through 64 with occupational exposure.
The FDA also approved the use of a single booster dose for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.
The FDA also allowed a mix and match approach to boosters, authorizing those who received one type of vaccination to choose a different booster. Local health care providers said studies have shown that people who received the J&J vaccine had a higher antibody response after receiving a Moderna booster.
“The available data suggest waning immunity in some populations who are fully vaccinated,” Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodccock said in a statement. “The availability of those authorized boosters is important for continued protection against COVID-19 disease.”
Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research said the FDA would gather additional data as quickly as possible to assess the benefits and risks of the us of booster doses in additional populations and plans to update the healthcare community and the public in the coming weeks.
For more information on vaccines in the area, residents can go to the web site: suffolkcountyny.gov/vaccine.
The web site also includes answers to frequently asked questions, such as: what are the side effects after I get the COVID-19 vaccine, is it safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I have an underlying medical condition, and what should I do if I am exposed to COVID-19 after being vaccinated.
