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Tracking COVID-19 in New York

Daily cases & positivity rate

Suffolk
Updated May. 26, 2:20 pm
On May. 25 Daily average (7 days) Change over last week
New cases 865 807 --6.27%
Positivity rate 11.14% 11.65% --3%
Data from the New York State Department of Health, Suffolk County Health Department and The New York Times.
Each day includes new cases reported since the previous day.

Nassau
Updated May. 26, 2:20 pm
On May. 25 Daily average (7 days) Change over last week
New cases 857 822 --14.06%
Positivity rate 10.10% 11.37% --8%
Data from the New York State Department of Health, Suffolk County Health Department and The New York Times.
Each day includes new cases reported since the previous day.

New York City
Updated May. 26, 2:20 pm
On May. 25 Daily average (7 days) Change over last week
New cases 4229 3819 --11.82%
Positivity rate 5.98% 7.07% 0%
Data from the New York State Department of Health, Suffolk County Health Department and The New York Times.
Each day includes new cases reported since the previous day.

New York
Updated May. 26, 2:20 pm
On May. 25 Daily average (7 days) Change over last week
New cases 9172 8366 --17.66%
Positivity rate 6.94% 8.35% --8%
Data from the New York State Department of Health, Suffolk County Health Department and The New York Times.
Each day includes new cases reported since the previous day.
 

Latest news

Health
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State heath department recommends second COVID booster for 5-to-11-year olds

The State Department of Health today announced its recommendation that children ages 5 to 11 should receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster five months after completing their initial two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine series. Full story.
Health
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Surge in virus cases puts most of NY, including Suffolk, at high risk for infection

Forty-five New York counties, including Suffolk and Nassau, have high community levels of COVID-19, triggering recommendations for masking in indoor public spaces regardless of vaccination status. Full story.
Health
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FDA authorizes and CDC recommends second Pfizer or Moderna booster for people 50 and older

Federal regulators yesterday authorized a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for people age 50 and over. Full story.
Government
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State health department ‘misled the public’ on nursing home deaths

The State Health Department conformed its presentation of data and information to Cuomo's 'narrative,' concealing deaths of 4,100 nursing home residents as governor came under increased scrutiny, a State Comptroller's audit finds. Full story.
Board of Education
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Masks in Riverhead schools will be optional starting Wednesday, as school board strips mandate from reopening plan

Masks will be optional in Riverhead schools starting Wednesday, following the unanimous vote by the board of education Monday night to remove the mask requirement from the school district's 2021-2022 reopening plan. Full story.
Health
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NY school mask mandate to be lifted March 2

Gov. Kathy Hochul today lifted the state’s controversial universal mask mandate for K-12 schools, effective Wednesday, March 2. Full story.
Health
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Riverhead Town offers additional free COVID-19 rapid tests to residents

The Town of Riverhead will offer free at-home COVID-19 testing kits to residents throughout next week at Town Hall and at the Riverhead Senior Center.  Full story.
Health
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RISE Life Services opens new outpatient mental health clinic on East Main Street

The Elevations Clinic Treatment Program will provide medical services, including medication prescriptions and management, antipsychotic injectables, smoking cessation treatment and mental health monitoring, and therapeutic services, including psychotherapy, psychoeducation, and an early intervention program for those with and at risk of developing substance use disorders. Full story.
Health
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Riverhead Town to distribute 1,200 free rapid COVID-19 test kits on Tuesday

The Town of Riverhead will distribute 1,200 free rapid COVID-19 test kits to residents on Tuesday at the Town Hall reception desk and at the Riverhead Senior Center in Aquebogue from 12-4 p.m.. There are two tests per kit. Full story.
Health
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New York drops mask mandate, except in schools, where decision will come next month

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced today New York State’s mask mandate will end tomorrow for most indoor public spaces, citing a declining number of cases in the state after a record-setting winter surge of the virus. A separate mask mandate will continue in schools until after the winter break. Full story.
Health
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Hochul expected to announce lifting of mask mandate — but not yet in schools

Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to announce the end of New York’s indoor mask mandate at a briefing this morning. But a decision on mandatory masking in schools will be delayed until after the winter break. The current school mandate is set to expire in two weeks. Full story.
Upcoming
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County vaccine clinic to be held at Riverhead library on Feb. 23

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be available at a clinic in the Riverhead Free Library on Feb. 23 from 1-5 p.m. for people age 5 and over. Full story.
Health
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Appellate court grants stay of order invalidating statewide mask mandate

A State Appellate Division panel this afternoon granted a stay of the Nassau County court decision last week that invalidated New York's statewide mask mandate. Full story.
Health
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New York extends indoor public space mask mandate to Feb. 10

New York State’s mask mandate for indoor public spaces has been extended until Feb. 10, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced during a storm... Full story.
Health
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Mask mandate protest held Thursday in front of Riverhead High School

More than 50 people protested outside of Riverhead High School today against the New York State’s school indoor mask mandate and against the school district’s alleged punishing of students who refuse to comply with the mandate. Full story.
Health
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State’s mask mandate remains intact after appellate court judge grants stay

After a hearing this afternoon, Justice Robert Miller, an Appellate Division judge, granted a motion for stay filed by N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James. The ruling allows the mask mandate to temporarily remain in effect. The judge scheduled another hearing for Friday. Full story.
Health
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Masks still required in Riverhead schools, parents protest outside district office

Following a State Education Department advisory last night to school districts saying they should keep mask mandates in place, the Riverhead Central School District informed families the district's mask requirement will continue. The decision drew a protest demonstration outside the district office this afternoon. Full story.
Health
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Nassau Supreme Court judge tosses out statewide mask mandate

The Dec. 10 "emergency rule" requiring masks in public places was made without legal authority, the court ruled, issuing a permanent injunction. The state immediately filed notice of appeal, which prevents enforcement of the court's decision. Full story.
Health
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COVID-19 infections continue downward trend in Suffolk and across NY

For the first time since just before Christmas, the COVID-19 test positivity rate in New York has fallen below 10%. It's just over 11% in Suffolk. Full story.
Health
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Giglio and Toulon to offer free COVID-19 test kits and N95 masks Saturday

Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio and Sheriff Errol Toulon are offering free COVID-19 test kits and N95 masks to the community Saturday morning. Full story.
Update January 18, 3:36 pm
Denise Civiletti

The Postal Service website for ordering free COVID-19 rapid tests is now live.

The USPS is delivering one shipment of four COVID tests per residential address. Enter your name, address and email at www.usps.com/covidtest to request a shipment.

Health
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Past the peak? COVID-19 cases in Suffolk fall nearly 8% since Jan. 7 record high

New lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Suffolk — and statewide — continue to decline. The 7-day average of daily new cases in Suffolk fell from 5,661 on Jan. 7 to 5,217 on Jan. 11, a 7.9% drop. Suffolk’s one-day record for the number of new lab-confirmed cases since the pandemic began hit 6,992 on Jan. 7. Yesterday, Suffolk reported 3,942 positive cases on Jan. 11. Full story.
Health
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‘A glimmer of hope’ that omicron may have peaked: New COVID-19 cases decline

New confirmed cases of COVID-19 have declined statewide over the past two days and health officials are hoping it’s the beginning of a trend. In Suffolk, new cases Jan. 9-10 were roughly half of daily numbers in the days prior. Full story.
Health
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One of the reasons omicron is more contagious also makes it less severe: WHO official

Unlike previous variants, omicron replicates in the the upper, rather than the lower, respiratory tract, which makes it more contagious — but also less severe, the World Health Organization's COVID-19 technical lead said in a briefing yesterday.. Full story.
Update January 8, 7:50 am
Denise Civiletti

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that adolescents age 12 to 17 years old should receive a booster shot five months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series.


“Data show that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen protection against omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants,” the CDC said.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviewed the available safety data following the administration of over 25 million vaccine doses in adolescents and found COVID-19 vaccines to be safe and effective, the CDC said.


At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for adolescents aged 12-17.


For more information, visit the CDC’s website.

Health
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N.Y. health care workers will be required to take COVID-19 vaccine boosters, Hochul says

Health care workers in New York State will be required to take a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot when they are eligible, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced today. Full story.
Health
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Report: COVID-19 hospitalizations in NY increasing fastest among children

COVID-19 hospitalizations in New York are increasing fastest among children — and by the largest numbers in the downstate region, according to a report released today by the New York State Department of Health. Full story.
Government
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Federal lawsuit seeks to block nursing home profit cap and staffing mandates imposed by state law that took effect Jan. 1

A federal lawsuit brought by the operators of more than 250 nursing homes in New York seeks to set aside a new state law that limits their profits and mandates minimum spending on direct care expenses. Full story.
Schools
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COVID causes spike in absences in Riverhead schools after winter break

Superintendent Augustine Tornatore said 25% of the student population and 22% of the district’s staff did not attend school the last three days, a number which he attributed primarily to COVID cases, isolations and those waiting for test results.  Full story.
Update January 5, 12:38 pm
Alek Lewis

A state-run COVID-19 PCR testing site will open at Stony Brook University starting Friday. The site will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and administer approximately 225 tests by appointment and 50 tests by walk-in per day. Appointments are available starting next week and can be made by visiting this link: https://bit.ly/3eWlyKK

Health
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Record COVID-19 case counts continue in Suffolk and throughout the state

Suffolk County has recorded record-breaking new cases every day since Dec. 22, when the 3,268 new confirmed cases outstripped the previous high of 2,194 recorded on Jan. 6, 2021, the peak of last winter’s surge. Full story.
Opinion | Guest Column
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The current COVID testing chaos is a fiasco that should not be happening

The COVID-19 winter surge, fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant, was entirely predictable, so why is there such chaos in testing for the virus right now, when it matters most? Full story.
Health
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Hochul’s ‘Winter Surge Plan 2.0’ extends mask mandate to Feb. 1, imposes new requirements on SUNY/CUNY campuses

With COVID-19 infections surging to new heights every day, Gov. Kathy Hochul rolled out updated strategies for controlling the virus in New York, where new cases have increased to 271 per 100,000. Full story.
Health
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Northwell Health suspends visitation at some hospitals, with limited exceptions

With COVID-19 cases rising across the region, Northwell Health has temporarily suspended all visitation at some of its hospitals, including Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. Full story.
Government
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With COVID surging, town board meetings to move virtual in the new year

Meetings of the Riverhead Town board after Jan. 4 will be held virtually because of the recent surge in coronavirus cases, Supervisor... Full story.
Government
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Zeldin: Hochul must do more to expand COVID testing

Rep. Lee Zeldin and a number of New York State Republican officials today criticized the Hochul administration’s pandemic response, which Zeldin said has exhibited “utter incompetence.” Full story.
Health
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Suffolk’s new COVID-19 cases Tuesday surge to more than twice the previous single-day high

According to the State Health Department, 4,577 new COVID-19 cases were reported yesterday in Suffolk County. The previous one-day high was 2,194 reported on Jan. 6. Full story.
Health
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As omicron variant rapidly spreads, CDC shortens recommended isolation and quarantine times

The CDC yesterday shortened its recommended isolation time for asymptomatic people who test positive for COVID-19 from 10 days to 5 days. It also said asymptomatic people who have been exposed to COVID-19 who are fully vaccinated and have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. Full story.
Health
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Peconic Bay Medical Center offering free drive-thru COVID tests in Riverhead

Tests are available by appointment only beginning Dec. 28, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Full story.
Update December 27, 8:00 am
RiverheadLOCAL

Local surge: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Town of Riverhead for the week ending Dec. 24 (215) was roughly equal to the number of confirmed cases in the town during the entire month of November (217).

Data source: Suffolk County Department of Health Services

Update December 27, 7:59 am
RiverheadLOCAL

The omicron variant comprised 64% of sequenced positive test results from New York State between Dec. 21 and Dec. 24, according to the GISAID database, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office said in a press release last night.

Health
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Huge spike in new COVID cases seen; governor urges New Yorkers to ‘be smart’ about holiday gatherings

New York recorded 38,835 COVID-19 cases Wednesday, a record high. Suffolk's confirmed cases topped 3,000 in one day for the first time. In a Christmas Eve address, Gov. Kathy Hochul urged New Yorkers to "be smart" about holiday gatherings. Full story.
Community News
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January regents exams canceled statewide due to coronavirus concerns

January’s high school regents exams have been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York State Department of Education announced yesterday. Full story.
Health
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Omicron pushes Suffolk test positivity rate to nearly 14% as holidays approach

Suffolk County reached a daily coronavirus test positivity rate of more 13.7% yesterday, as public health experts warn families to take precautions against an expanding surge of the coronavirus led by the omicron variant. Full story.
Update December 18, 7:34 am
Denise Civiletti

Two Suffolk County pop-up vaccination sites will be held in Riverhead this week.

Monday, Dec. 20 for Pfizer and Moderna booster shots at First Baptist Church of Riverhead, 1018 Northville Turnpike, from 1 to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 22 for Pfizer vaccines, as well as booster shots, at Riverhead Free Library, 330 Court St., from 2 to 6 p.m.

For more information about Suffolk County vaccination clinics visit the county's website.

Click here for more information about the COVID-19 vaccines.

Health
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COVID-19 cases soar 170% in Suffolk over past month, as hospitalizations more than double

With COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations climbing in Suffolk and across the state, Gov. Kathy Hochul warned of the impact on hospitals if the U.S. experiences an "exponential" increase in cases in the weeks ahead due to the omicron variant. Full story.
Health
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New COVID cases per 100,000 Suffolk residents rose 77% since Thanksgiving, state data show

New COVID cases continue to surge in Suffolk, following 2020 winter surge trajectory. Hospitalizations also increase, but at a slower pace than last year. Full story.
Health
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NY imposes indoor mask mandate for public spaces unless vaccine is required to enter

New York has a new mask mandate. Effective Dec. 13, masks required in all indoor public spaces unless a COVID-19 vaccine is required to enter the space, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this morning. Full story.
Opinion | Denise Civiletti
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Celebrate with caution this holiday season

COVID isn’t done with us yet, and try as we might, we can’t just wish it away. Follow CDC guidelines for masks & social distancing. Take a home rapid test before gathering with friends and family. Please be careful. Full story.
Health
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Suffolk’s post-Thanksgiving COVID data so far mirror 2020 numbers at start of winter surge

This time a year ago, when cold weather kept people indoors and holidays brought them together, the surge began. Suffolk’s daily new cases rose after Halloween, escalated after Thanksgiving, and continued to climb through the holiday season, peaking in mid-January at more than 1,800 per day. Will this winter follow the same path? Full story.
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