'What we saw out there is unacceptable' - Bellone condemns large weekend gatherings on Fire Island

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Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone gave his first COVID-19 update following the Fourth of July weekend, with decreases in county hospitalizations and a strong push back against images seen on Fire Island in the past few days.
Briefing Notes:
- Bellone marks the passing of the Fourth of July weekend as a milestone for where Suffolk is compared to where they were in the pandemic.
- Bellone says infection rate hovers around 1% as Long Island aims to hit phase four later this week.
- 41,685 total COVID-19 positive tests.
- 63 COVID-19 hospitalizations in the county, a decrease of three.
- 1 additional COVID-19 death - comes after five of seven days without a death in the county.
- Bellone comments on videos seen from Fire Island over the weekend where people gathered in large groups without masks - 'seemingly going out of their way to violate (social distancing) rules. What we saw out there is unacceptable ... it is just, in so many ways, dumb.'
- Bellone continues about Fire Island: 'We will be enhancing patrols above and beyond, if necessary in certain places, we will have a fixed post.'
- Bellone says when law enforcement responded to gatherings, there was  compliance, but reports say some continued to ignore.
- In terms of social distancing in Montauk, says some mass gatherings appeared to intentionally ignore guidance/rules.
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