Suffolk Coronavirus: 'Indoor Dining Is Officially Back'

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Wednesday marked a "milestone" day in Suffolk as Phase 3 of the plan to reopen the economy kicked off — and indoor dining was once again available.

"Indoor dining is officially back," County Executive Steve Bellone said, holding his daily press briefing from the Whale's Tale restaurant in Northport.

During the past months, Bellone said, the owner of the Whales Tale, as well as other Suffolk and Nassau County restaurants, formed a coalition and worked with the New York State Restaurant Association and the Long Island restaurant association to "successfully get outdoor dining moved to Phase 2" and see indoor dining at the beginning of Phase 3.

"It is a great day to see these restaurants open up," he said.

Restaurant capacity remains limited to 50 percent and all indoor and outdoor tables must be six feet apart, he said; all employees and customers must wear face coverings, except when seated.

Also open in Phase 3, he said, are personal care services, including nail salons and tattoo parlors. Gatherings of up to 25 people, instead of 10, are now allowed, he said.

The same guidance applies for personal care businesses, with face coverings required and any services that would involve the removal of the face covering, such as facials, remain prohibited, Bellone said.

Social distancing protocols must be adhered to and employees, he said, must be tested for coronavirus every 14 days while the region remains in Phase 3.

When asked about Gov. Andrew Cuomo's announcement Wednesday that malls, gyms and movie theaters may not be allowed in Phase 4, Bellone said the county has been working with the state.

Malls, Bellone said, could reopen with limited capacity, and with face coverings required; the same would apply to gyms, which could reopen with capacity limits, strict cleaning guidelines, and social distancing, he added.

New York State officials, he added, indicated that they would continually review guidance. In addition, Bellone said he'd continue to review what had happened upstate, to see what the data looked like for that region, which has already been in Phase 3.

"We're into Phase 3 now, which is an important milestone, but we will be immediately shifting to discussing different activities that are not open, and how we can open them safely and get them moving," Bellone said.

No tax for advanced septic system pilot program participants

Suffolk County residents who participated in a pilot program to roll out new advanced septic system improvements should not be taxed on the grant money by the Internal Revenue Service, Bellone said at his press briefing Tuesday.

Bellone said water quality is an issue of "great importance in the county" and groundbreaking work has been done to unveil alternative septic systems.

However, he said, the IRS has made a decision to impose a new tax on homeowners who participated in the county's "historic" septic system improvement program." Bellone said he was "exploring every way to fight this."

Scientists have said that Suffolk County's reliance on "primitive wastewater systems has degraded our water quality and is a threat," Bellone said.

Participants in the pilot program, he added, were happy to be a part of positive change. "Suffolk County residents care about clean water," Bellone said. "They should not be liable to pay taxes on grant money that never even touched their hands."

The county executive thanked federal partners such as Rep. Lee Zeldin and Rep. Tom Suozzi for introducing legislation that would "reverse this misguided IRS ruling and protect people who were simply trying to do their part to protect the environment."

He added: "I just think it's absolutely outrageous that the IRS would be taxing people who received grants to help with important water quality" issues in the region. "We should be doing everything we can to applaud people who are pioneers in the program," Bellone said.

Put the vote to the people

Bellone once again spoke about the staggering budget hole the county is facing due to the "unprecedented and catastrophic" coronavirus crisis, with an $800 million gap that must be filled in less than three months and a potential shortfall of between $1.1 and $1.5 billion in the next 15 months.

He signed an executive order this week to freeze salary and step increases for all non-union employees.

Bellone also submitted a resolution to the Suffolk County Legislature that would extend the action through 2021, a move that will save taxpayers nearly $3.4 million.

It's time, he said, for the federal government to act. "Our immediate need is $1 billion in federal relief," he said.

While that amount won't solve all the problems and tough choices will need to be made, along with efforts to transform government and make it more "productive, effective and efficient," the funding "will prevent the worst impacts from COVID-19 from happening."

Those impacts, Bellone said, will be borne by taxpayers, essential employees and first responders, who will have to cover the cost of the pandemic response. And, Bellone reminded that every year, Suffolk County gives billions more to the federal government than it ever gets back. "This is not a handout," he said.

If the federal government does not step up to the plate, he said, the region's recovery could drag on for more than a decade.

A list of mitigation measures were presented that could be implemented, including layoffs, lag payrolls, raising energy and sales taxes, and amortizing pensions.

And those mitigation measures — with all the hardships they would mean to taxpayers and first responders — would only add up to $150 million, Bellone said, when $829 million is needed.
Still, immediate action needs to be taken soon, Bellone said.

To that end, he said, the county's budget office has put aside and embargoed $29 million in funding from various departments; resolutions have also been forward to mitigate impacts totaling $77 million.

Tax stabilization funding streams would be used to help mitigate impacts, as well, Bellone said.
None of the measures he presented, two of which would be voted on by the public, would impact employees or substantive police, including environmental policy.

Bellone said those tax stabilization funding streams would help to mitigate impacts, including possible layoffs. "Laying people off is the last thing we should be doing but unfortunately, any legislator who votes 'no' on this is making layoffs more likely to occur, making it more likely we will need more painful measures — and that's a shame. We should exhaust all existing measures," before considering the more drastic mitigation suggestions, Bellone said.

Fireworks arrests

While there are no plans for county-hosted fireworks this July 4, that hasn't stopped residents from shooting off their own in both Suffolk and Nassau Counties; so far, two individuals have been arrested, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said.

Hart said police would be continue with enforcement and a public service announcement. "These fireworks are dangerous," she said. "It's best to leave it to the experts."

New free drive-in movies announced

After the success of Saturday's showing of "Jaws" at Smith Point County Park, Bellone said additional movies have been added to the summer roster, including "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and "The Addams Family." For information and reservations, click here.

Hospitalizations below 90

As of Wednesday, a total of 41,101 individuals countywide have tested positive for the coronavirus, with an additional 45 out of just under 4,000 over the past 24 hours, or about 1.1 percent.

A total of 18,327 have tested positive for antibodies, Bellone said.

Hospitalizations increased by one person, and are down to 88 countywide; there was an increase in two patients who are in ICU, with a total of 26, Bellone said. Hospital capacity stands at 3,038, with 1,082 beds available, or 64 percent; there are 515 ICU beds in Suffolk with 208 available, or 60 percent, he said.

One patient was released from the hospital. And two people died, bringing the countywide total of coronavirus deaths to 1,972.

This article originally appeared on the Southampton Patch