SC Kicks Off Start of Phase 3 Reopening
Suffolk County has moved to Phase 3 of its economic reopening following a prolonged lockdown from COVID-19, as restaurants can offer limited seating dining and nail salons and tattoo parlors can reopen.
Additionally, the number of people that can gather together increased to 25 from 10.
For personal care and indoor dining, the maximum capacity is half of the pre-viral levels. Employees must be tested every two weeks at these establishments.
“It’s another huge step for all of us,” County Executive Steve Bellone (D) said on his daily conference call with reporters.
The viral numbers in the county continued to remain well below guidelines and limits.
The number of people testing positive for the virus was 45, bringing the total to 41,101.
The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus declined by one through the 24 hour period ending on June 22, bringing that total to 88.
The number of people in the Intensive Care Unit with complications related to the virus decreased by two to 26.
The percent of hospital beds occupied was 64, while the percent of ICU beds in use was 60 percent.
The number of people who died from complications related to COVID-19 increased by two to 1,972.
Suffolk County distributed an additional 15,000 personal protective equipment in the last day, with much of that going to the police department and nursing homes.
Separately, Suffolk County is continuing its movie series, which kicked off this past weekend with the showing of “Jaws” on the 45th anniversary of the shark film’s debut.
Reservations are open starting today for “ET The Extra-Terrestrial,” which will be shown next Wednesday, July 1. Upcoming movies include “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and “The Addams Family.”
Residents interested in seeing the free movies at the Smithpoint County Park can get tickets at suffolkcountyny.gov/
After Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) indicated recently that Phase 4 reopening would exclude malls, movie theaters and gyms, Bellone said he is continuing to communicate with the state about these limits.
