Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone says coronavirus numbers have continued to drop, including the lowest addition to the death toll in months.
Briefing Notes:
- Bellone talks about the addition of outdoor dining to Phase 2, which is on track for Wednesday. - Bellone hosting a Town Hall on contact tracing, something he calls vital through the summer and fall. Tonight at 6:30 p.m. on FB Live on Bellone's page. - 91 new COVID-19 cases - 'below 100 ... a good number.' - 225 COVID-19 hospitalizations - decrease by 11. - Just 1 COVID-19 death - toll hits 1,916. Bellone: 'We have not been down to that level since the 3rd week in March.' - 56 patients on ICU beds - decrease of 5. - 20 COVID-19 hospital discharges. - Bellone says he's grateful for peaceful protests continuing. - Says there is a third crisis beyond COVID-19 and Floyd protests - a fiscal crisis, something that he has spoken to at length this week. References the potential $1.5B budget hole by late 2022. - 'This is not a normal fiscal crisis ... it would be unjust for the federal government to hand our taxpayers, first responders, etc, to foot the bill.' - Bellone says should there be a spike in positives due to protests, there isn't concern about having enough capacity.