Bellone calls out Trump for calling federal assistance a 'bailout'

Suffolk Executive Steve Bellone held a media briefing covering several topics, from Isaias, COVID-19 and the federal response to the pandemic.

News 12 Staff

Aug 12, 2020, 6:06 PM

Updated 1,498 days ago

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Bellone calls out Trump for calling federal assistance a 'bailout'
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Suffolk Executive Steve Bellone held a media briefing covering several topics from Isaias, COVID-19 and the federal response to the pandemic.
Briefing Notes:
- Bellone echoes PSEGLI's projection that all customers will have power back by Wednesday night.
- Says once the power is back, it'll be time to identify and put forward solutions in the 'issues with communication' that came from Isaias.
- On COVID-19 numbers, say they're "still in a very good place."
- 55 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours - a positivity rate of just above 1%. Says county has been hovering around 1% in past weeks.
- "That's a very good sign that we are maintaining ... I appreciate everyone's effort to follow guidance."
- Over 24,000 positive antibody tests.
- Total of 33 hospitalizations due to COVID-19. County has been in the 30s for most of the month. Just three people on ICU beds.
- Death toll is at 1,998 -- numbers have risen extremely slowly in past weeks. Bellone says it looked like Suffolk could have crossed 2,000 awhile ago, but still hasn't thanks to work of health care workers, residents.
- Bellone laments President Trump's visit to the Hamptons, where he called federal disaster assistance as a "bailout." Says funding local governments "shouldn't be a partisan issue." Mentions how he was joined by Republican politicians like Rep. King to call for aid.
- Bellone: "We need to put the politics aside when families are in crisis."