Bellone: Suffolk’s COVID-19 cases rise to 1,880; 422 in past 24 hours

Bellone announces another “dramatic increase” in positive COVID-19 cases. There are 1,880 positive cases in the county.

News 12 Staff

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Mar 24, 2020, 5:40 PM

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Updated 1,733 days ago

UPDATES FROM SUFFOLK COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEVE BELLONE

Bellone announces another “dramatic increase” in positive COVID-19 cases. There are 1,880 positive cases in the county.
Bellone says there have been 422 new cases in the last 24 hours. Four more residents with underlying health conditions have died
There have been more than 7,000 people tested in the county for COVID-19.

Bellone says 20 percent of the county’s public is at “serious risk” of contracting COVID-19.
EMS crews will be instituting a “viral pandemic triage protocol” that will evaluate on-site if a hospital visit is required.

MORE: LIVE BLOG - Coronavirus updates from the tri-state area and beyond

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced another “dramatic” increase in positive COVID-19 cases in Suffolk County Tuesday afternoon.

Positive cases have climbed to 1,880 in the county, with 422 of them coming in the past 24 hours, Bellone said.

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He also announced the death of four more residents, each of whom had underlying health conditions. They were in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. It brings the total deaths in the county to 17.

“This will affect every single one of us, in one way or another,” Bellone said during his update. “Every single one of us has a responsibility and a role to play.”

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Bellone urged the county to continue social distancing techniques to stop community spread and to “flatten the curve.” He said that staying vigilant and at a distance from other is a way of honoring “those on the frontlines.”

The county executive also outlined “viral pandemic triage protocol” being put in place by first responders. He says EMS crews will screen for symptoms of COVID-19 upon arrival at calls and determine if a hospital stay is warranted. Bellone says it’s an effort to not overwhelm already overburdened hospitals and medical workers.

Earlier Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he wants to double the amount of beds for coronavirus patients in the state in a matter of several weeks. Bellone called this a “herculean effort” that may require even more beds based on the latest projections.