Hallocks Bay Orient NY
Al Krupski Headshot

Update From Al Krupski – Suffolk County Legislator – March 20, 2020

311 FAQs March 20, 2020 Update
Suffolk County Updates 3/20/2020

SUFFOLK COUNTY EXECUTIVE BELLONE ANNOUNCES NEW ACTIONS TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY COVID-19. For more information, please click here.

Important Links:
CDC Coronavirus (COVID-19)
S.C. Covid-19 Update Page
NYS Coronavirus Information

Governor Cuomo Update-March 20, 2020 

  • Governor Cuomo will sign an Executive Order mandating that 100% of workforce must stay home, excluding essential services. This order excludes pharmacies, grocery stores, and others. Effective Sunday, March 22, 2020 by 8:00 pm
  • Effective March 21, 2020 8:00 pm – until further notice, all barber shops, beauty salons, tattoo or piercing parlors and related personal care services will be closed to members of the public. This shall also include nail technicians, cosmetologists and estheticians; and the provision of electrolysis, and the provision of electrolysis, laser hair removal services, as these services cannot be provided while maintaining social distance
  • New York will implement a 90-day moratorium on evictions for residential and commercial tenants. We will do all we can to help those financially suffering because of the #COVID19 pandemic.
  • For assistance in finding child care please contact the Child Care Council of Suffolk hotline # 646-926-3784. We are prioritizing child care for essential workers, including health care workers, first responders, grocery and pharmacy employees and others who are critical to keep our essential supports operational. 

Grocery Retailer Senior Shopping Hours updates-March 20, 2020
Dollar General 8-9 am-DailyStew Leonard 7:30-8:00 am-DailyStop and Shop 6:30-7:30 am-DailyUncle Giuseppe’s 7-8:00 am-DailyGiunta Meat Farm 6:30-7:30 M/W/FTarget 8-9 am WednesdaysWalmart 6-7 am Wednesdays

Suffolk County Business Recovery Unit is Open -March 19, 2020-The Suffolk County Business Recovery Unit — a key component of the County’s overall plan — is now operational within our Labor Department. 12 Labor Department employees dedicated to this unit and not only will they address questions and needs, but they will be able to track the data and information provided by our local businesses. To be connected to the unit, our local businesses can Dial 311 and once prompted press 2 to be transferred to the unit, email [email protected] or they can visit www.suffolkcountyny.gov/bru. We also want to encourage our residents to fill out the Business Recovery Survey located on the top right of the Suffolk County Government homepage. While it can be accessed on a mobile device, we recommend the use of a desktop or laptop.

Governor Cuomo Update-March 19, 2020 
The Governor also announced the Department of Financial Services has issued a new directive to New York State mortgage servicers to provide 90-day mortgage relief to mortgage borrowers impacted by the novel coronavirus. The directive includes:

  • Waiving mortgage payments based on financial hardship;
  • No negative reporting to credit bureaus;
  • Grace period for loan modification;
  • No late payment fees or online payment fees; and
  • Postponing or suspending foreclosures. 

Additionally, the Governor has asked the Department of Financial Services to instruct state chartered banks to waive ATM fees, late fees, overdraft fees and fees for credits cards to help lessen the financial hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic on New Yorkers.

Suffolk County Parks Update-March 19, 2020 

While all of our County Parks remain open for our residents to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air, today we will be closing all dog parks and playgrounds in the interest of public health. Residents can still visit our parks to get outdoors with their family or for walks with their dogs. Additionally, as of tomorrow all County golf courses will open EXCEPT Timber Point. The Park’s Department will continue to post updates on the County website to keep our residents informed. .

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IMPLEMENTS A FILING SYSTEM AND EXTENDS HOURS TO ADDRESS THE INFLUX OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS AND MAKE PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT FOR CLAIMANTS-March 18, 2020 To file a claim log on to: https://applications.labor.ny.gov/IndividualReg/ NYSDOL is implementing a new more efficient filing system based on the first letter of the applicants last name (alphabetical order). Here is the step-by-step process for filing; A – F : MondayG – N : TuesdayO – Z : WednesdayMissed your day : Thursday and Friday.

Filing later in the week will not delay payments or affect the date of an individual’s claim, since all claims are effective on the Monday of the week in which they are filed.

Stony Brook University Drive Through Testing SiteNYS Coronavirus HotlineThe New York State Department of Health is allowing people to make appointments at their Suffolk County mobile testing site now. Suffolk County residents who want to make an appointment for the test can call the NYS Coronavirus Hotline 1-888-364-3065 and they will be triaged by a nurse or a healthcare professional.

Suffolk County Department of Social Service
Riverhead Center893 E. Main Street Riverhead, New York 11901-2542Telephone: (631) 852-3500Fax: (631)852-3505

Coram Center 80 Middle Country Road Coram, New York 11727 Telephone: (631) 854-2300Fax (631) 854-2123

Smithtown Center200 Wireless Boulevard Hauppauge, New York 11788 Telephone: (631) 853-8714Fax: (631) 853-8842

South West Center 2 South 2nd Street Deer Park, New York 11729 Telephone: (631) 854-6600Fax: (631) 854-6672

All efforts to reduce public contact are being made while meeting the needs of the County’s most vulnerable residents.

Applications

Applications for assistance programs can be submitted by mail (instead of coming to a center). Please visit the SCDSS website for information or to download applications at: https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Social-Services/Client-Benefits-Administration

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicationsand case recertification can be submitted electronically @ mybenefits.ny.gov or by mail (instead of coming to a center).

Additionally, SNAP benefits can be used for online grocery purchases.

Current participating retailers include: Amazon, Walmart and ShopRite. Amazon is available statewide; Walmart and ShopRite participate in specific zip codes. Walmart, depending on specific locations, offers delivery, pick-up or both. Clients can enter zip code on the Walmart or ShopRite websites to find availability.

Establishments that are not abiding by the closure order

The County Executive announced today, March 17, 2020, that if someone sees an establishment not abiding by the Governor’s closure order for bars and restaurants, please call 631-852-COPS or 311.

SMART 911 We are encouraging residents to sign up for SMART911, which allows individuals and families to provide critical medical information to 9-1-1 and first responders. The information provided in a Smart911 Safety Profile enables us to know who is at the greatest risk in our community. We can provide individuals with critical updates based on their location and health history. Ultimately, Smart911 gives our community the chance to be proactive, and lets us know who requires our services. Residents can visit Smart911.com to sign up. As part of this effort, residents can now sign up for SMS text message updates on their mobile devices to receive updates on the latest information, health guidance and other developments relating to the coronavirus. Residents should text COVIDSUFFOLK to 67283 to enroll.

Closure of Suffolk County Department of Human Resources, Personnel and Civil Service
As of March 17, 2020 – The Suffolk County Civil Service Building will be closed to the public for the next two weeks or until further notice.All essential functions will continue. Almost all transactions and general inquires can be addressed online via access to the website or by phone. For those wishing to drop material off at the building we greatly encourage you to mail instead.

New Yorkers with Student, Medical, and Other State-Referred Debt Will Have Payments Frozen for At Least 30 Days

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Attorney General Letitia James-Debt Relief Announcement March 17, 2020 Effective immediately — the state will temporarily halt the collection of medical and student debt owed to the State of New York and referred to the Office of the Attorney General for collection, for at least a 30-day period, in response to growing financial impairments resulting from the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.

S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer AffairsSuffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs as well as SWEP are closed to the public. Information is available by phone and email. 631 853-4600  [email protected]631-853-6600  [email protected] 631-853-3820  Suffolk Works Employment Program (SWEP) Help Line

NYSED-Effective March 18, 2020: Early Intervention and 4410 Preschool Special Education Services, including SEIT, Evaluations, Related Services and Transportation are suspended. This will remain in effect thru April 1, 2020.

COVID Testing Procedures: Reach out to Primary Care Physician (PCP) or call your local Urgent Care Facility to assess your conditions/symptoms. Currently, it is also flu and allergy season as well as many are experiencing signs of the common cold and cough. Your Primary Care Physician or Urgent Care Facility should be able to triage your symptoms to eliminate other possibilities before being tested for COVID 19.

Food Pantry and Feeding ProgramsLong Island Cares (LIC) Michael Haynes

LIC will perform Grab and Go breakfast to children and adults in need (Gus Truck) ;

  • Saturday, March 21: Wyandanch Community Resource Center, 1585 Straight Path (from 9:30 to approximately 10:30 a.m.)
  • Saturday, March 21: Mercy Inn, 17 S. 20th Street, Wyandanch (from approximately 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.)
  • Sunday, March 22: HELP Suffolk, 685 Brookhaven Avenue, Bellport
  • Sunday, March 29: Mastic Fire Department, 1080 Mastic Road, Mastic

LIC will provide emergency bags of food to seniors and individuals in need (Support our Seniors Program) Consists of: 9 meals per person, 3 meals per day, for 3 days based on Feeding America guidelines

  • 3/18/20 – Moriches Bay Recreation Center-12:00-1:00pm- 313 Frowein Rd. Center Moriches, NY 11934
  • 3/18/20 – Hampton Bays 10-11:00am -31 E Montauk Highway Hampton Bays, NY 11946
  • 3/18/20- Avery Village – 2:30 pm -3:30 pm -1100 Village Drive East Patchogue, NY 11772
  • 3/20/20 – Mitchel Houses 1pm-2pm -1485 Front Street, East Meadow, 11554
  • 3/20/20 –- Sienna Village10:00 am – 11:00am – 2000 Bishops Rd , Smithtown, NY 11787
  • 3/23/20 – Plainview Housing- 10:00 am -11:00 am – 115 Central Park Rd, Plainview, NY 11803
  • 3/27/20 – Village of Brentwood 10:00am-11:00am- 95 2nd Avenue, Brentwood, NY 11717

LIC will provide emergency food to individuals in need (Mobile Outreach Resource Enterprise) Mobile Outreach Resource Enterprise (M.O.R.E.): Provides emergency food to individuals- They will be provided 3 meals per day for 3 days.

  • 3/20/20 – Rogers Memorial Library – 11am-12pm – 91 Coopers Farm Rd, Southampton, NY 11968
  • 3/20/20 – Westbury FQHC Family Health Center – 10:30am – 11:30am 682 Union Ave, Westbury, NY 11590
  • 3/25/20 – Middle Country Public Library – 11am-12pm – 101 Eastwood Blvd, Centereach, NY 11720
  • 3/25/20 – Comsewogue Public Library – 12:30m-1:30pm – 170 Terryville Rd, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

LIC operates satellite locations including its own emergency food pantries at several community locations. Satellite centers will serve 6 families at a time. People in need are encouraged to call the LIC location closest to them to make an appointment to alleviate time constraints. Food boxes will be delivered to vehicles. Hours and locations are as follows:

  • Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Tuesday-Thursday from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Our staff will also be available to assist people at other times including, weekends by appointment only by calling (631) 582-3663 Ext 109. 

  • Long Island Cares-The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank10 Davids Drive – Harry Chapin Way, Hauppauge(631) 582-FOOD for appointment
  • Nassau Center for Collaborative Assistance21 East Sunrise Highway, Freeport(516) 442-5221 for appointment
  • South Shore Service Center163-1 North Wellwood Avenue, Lindenhurst(631) 991-8106 for appointment
  • Harry Chapin Food Bank and Humanitarian Center220 Broadway, Huntington Station(631) 824-6384 for appointment
  • Baxter’s Pet Pantry & Retail Food Rescue Center161 North Wellwood Avenue, Lindenhurst(631) 991-8106 for appointment
  • Hunger Assistance & Humanitarian Center of the Hamptons286 West Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays(631) 613-3344 for appointment

Suffolk County Department of Health Services as of March 16thI tested positive for COVID-2019What do I do now?

If you test positive for COVID-2019, you should isolate yourself from other household and/or family members (those who live with you). In addition, your household and/or family members should also remain at home under quarantine.

Quarantine or isolation means you must stay separate from others in the community to prevent the possible spread of COVID-2019.

  • You must stay at your residence all the time, during the period you are self-quarantined.
  • You should avoid having company at your residence
  • You will need to take your temperature with a thermometer twice a day: in the morning and later in the day, and record your temperature on a sheet of paper or electronically.
  • You can live with other family members in your home, but you must sleep in a separate bedroom and use a separate bathroom until the quarantine or isolation period is over.
  • During this period, you should avoid close contact for social or dining activities. Food should be delivered to your individual quarters.
  • You may walk outside your house on your own property, but should not come within six feet of neighbors or other members of the public. You should refrain from walking in your neighborhood.
  • Symptoms of novel coronavirus include: fever, cough, shortness of breath. If you develop any of these symptoms, you should put on a face mask immediately to prevent other people in your household from becoming sick.
  • If you have a true emergency, call 911, and let the person that answers know that you are under quarantine or isolation for novel coronavirus.
  • If you feel you need to be relocated to another jurisdiction (city, town, or state), you must first speak to the SCDHS Public Health Staff at 631-854-0333 who will handle your request.
  • If you have any questions or if you need assistance with daily living (e.g. food, laundry, etc.), please call 311.
  • If you have concerns about your employment status, SCDHS can provide you with a letter asking your employer to excuse you from work. 
  • You will be advised by the SCDHS in consultation with the New York State Department of Health when your quarantine or isolation period will end.