30 Guests Get Coronavirus After LI Country Club Wedding

CUTCHOGUE, NY — A wedding on the North Fork led to a third of the 91 guests testing positive for the coronavirus, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said Wednesday.

The wedding was held October 17 at the North Fork Country Club in Cutchogue. Those who contracted the virus included guests and those working at the event; all of them are under isolation. A total of 159 contacts of the infected people are under quarantine, Bellone said.

The country club faces up to $17,000 in fines.

Bellone said recent superspreader events like the wedding have led to a crackdown and amped up enforcement. The country club was cited for violating Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order that nonessential gatherings have no more than 50 guests, Bellone said, adding the club was also cited for violating Suffolk County's sanitary code.

The Suffolk County Health Department recommended the country club receive the maximum fine of $15,000 for violating the executive order and $2,000 for violating the Suffolk County sanitary code, Bellone said.

"This blatant disregard for others is not only disappointing," but also has consequences, Bellone said. "If you are caught you will be held responsible. We have literally come too far and been through too much pain and anxiety, too much harm to people's lives and the economy. Families are still in crisis and businesses are still struggling to survive."

He added, "We have come incredibly far — and this kind of activity is what threatens to bring us back."

Bellone's office did not immediately respond to a question about whether the country club's liquor license will be suspended, as other businesses' have, for violating the executive order on nonessential gatherings.

In addition, Bellone said a Farmingville resident who hosted a house party with more than 200 people last weekend will be fined up to $2,500 — the first resident to be fined for violating the governor's executive order.

The resident was also issued field appearance tickets by police for charges including second-degree criminal nuisance and allowing consumption of alcohol to minors under 21, Bellone said.

Last, Bellone said health officials are monitoring an Oct. 17 birthday party in Bellport, where 26 people out of the 50 present tested positive for the virus.

That event did not violate the executive order regarding gatherings, Bellone said.

All of those who tested positive, as well as 132 contacts, are in quarantine, Bellone said.

Between the wedding and birthday party, there are 56 positive cases of coronavirus and nearly 300 quarantined.

Bellone said the county does not believe the virus has spread further during those two events; he thanked the health department for their "incredible" work with contact tracing.

As Halloween weekend approaches, Bellone said it's important to remember how quickly the virus can spread at gatherings.

"I understand people's frustration with the situation we are all in ... but look at what is happening in other parts of the country right now," he said. "Look at what's happening in Europe, where they are talking about major lockdowns. We do not want that to happen and we are determined to do everything we can to see continued progress and our economic recovery from this virus."

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said while COVID-19 infection rates remain low countywide, it's important to remain vigilant.

"As a parent, I understand the difficulty of having teens cooped up, but this is not the environment for large gatherings," she said. Those events, she added, can have horrendous "consequences."

The North Fork County Club was closed Thursday for 14 days.

"We reached out to Department of Health and we are working with them to provide all information needed," the business said in a statement. "In respect of our employees and in compliance with HIPPA we are not able to disclose the health status of our employees."

Bellone's office shared information about isolation and quarantine protocols, which can be found on the Suffolk County website.

Suffolk County health officials urged catering halls and persons wishing to hold an event to follow guidance for food services during the pandemic.

In September, Giorgio's Baiting Hollow, a popular Long Island wedding venue, had its liquor license suspended after a task force reported that 95 people, almost twice the legal limit, attended a reception, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

That news led to an outcry from lawmakers and business owners who said livelihoods are on the line and catering facilities should be allowed to open at 50 percent capacity.

Earlier in October, a Sweet 16 party at a Miller Place catering hall led to 37 coronavirus cases and 81 guests quarantined in the county's first superspreader event. Sachem High School North was closed as a result.

This article originally appeared on the North Fork Patch