Updated 8:25 p.m. Closings and other news about responses to the COVID-19 epidemic.
The number of cases of infection with COVID-19 is up to four in Huntington.
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- Huntington Hospital has suspended its volunteer program until at least April 24. For those scheduled for elective surgeries and other outpatient procedures, staff members are screening patients by phone and on arrival for respiratory symptoms, travel from a high-risk country, or contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. Clinical experts are vetting any positive responses before surgery on a case-by-case basis. For the latest information from Northwell Health on COVID-19, go to https://www.northwell.edu/
coronavirus-covid-19 - All public school games and scrimmages are canceled until April 6, Section XI announced Friday.
- PSEG said it was temporarily suspending shutoffs of electric service to residential customers for non-payment, effective immediately. “We recognize that customers may experience financial difficulty as a result of the outbreak, whether they or a family member fall ill, are required to quarantine, or because their income is otherwise affected. We hope to alleviate those customers’ concerns about their electric service during this time.”
- Long Island Cares will send its mobile children’s food truck to an area where schools have closed and school meals are no longer available. A plan for a virtual donation drive overwhelmed the group’s donation page, so donors or those in need should call 631-582- 3663 (FOOD).
- The Northport school district canceled the SAT scheduled for Saturday. It also said schools would be closed Monday but that said it was treating that closure as weather-related, while saying the situation would remain fluid.
- The South Huntington school district canceled its adult education classes starting Monday through April 17.
- The Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor said that its galleries are closed for march and public programs are postponed.
- State Sen. John Flanagan said the new state law banning single-use bags and the shift to reusable bags could spread disease. “Senate Democrats’ desperate need to be green is unclean during the coronavirus outbreak,” Flanagan said.
- Gov. Cuomo’s ban on visits to nursing homes starts Friday night. Facilities can make exceptions for people visiting a very sick or dying loved one; those visitors will be required to wear protective gear.
- Heckscher Museum is closed starting Saturday and until further notice; Programs and events are canceled through April 3.
- The Elwood Public Library has canceled all programming through March 31.
- Democratic candidate Michael Weinstock is suspending his petitioning efforts in his effort to unseat US Rep. Tom Suozzi.
- Stop and Shop announced that it is suspending its food sampling programs and events until further notice.
- Huntington residents are maintaining lists of which stores are out of certain supplies, such as toilet paper or cleaning products, and noting long lines of shoppers at Costco and other major grocery stores.
- The Commack Public Library will be closed next week until March 30. Online services will continue to be available.
- Huntington Hospital has suspended its volunteer program until at least April 24. For those scheduled for elective surgeries and other outpatient procedures, staff members are screening patients by phone and on arrival for respiratory symptoms, travel from a high-risk country, or contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. Clinical experts are vetting any positive responses before surgery on a case-by-case basis. For the latest information from Northwell Health on COVID-19, go to https://www.northwell.edu/