Long Island ‘Superspreader Events’ Threaten To Undo Its Success At Controlling Virus

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Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced fines on Wednesday against a Long Island, N.Y., country club and a resident for hosting events in violation of social gathering limits.

Screengrab by NPR/Suffolk County Executive/Facebook

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Screengrab by NPR/Suffolk County Executive/Facebook

Also facing fines: a resident in the hamlet of Farmingville, whose home was the site of a house party attended by an estimated 200-300 people, most of them under legal drinking age, authorities say.

Suffolk County police broke up the party after receiving multiple 911 calls about it. County officials have recommended a $2,500 fine for the host, for violating coronavirus restrictions and hosting a party where underage people were drinking.

This marks the first time a resident in Suffolk County has been fined for violating the governor’s executive order, Bellone said. Thus far, the party has not been identified as a source of new infections.

But not all «superspreading events are illegal. A birthday party in Bellport on Oct. 17 had about 50 people in attendance: right at the legal limit.

Nonetheless, 26 people from the party have now tested positive for the coronavirus, Bellone said, and additional 132 contacts are now in quarantine.

«Between this wedding and this birthday party, there are 56 positive COVID-19 cases and nearly 300 under quarantine, Bellone said. «These kind of superspreader events are a threat to our public health and to our continued economic recovery.

Earlier this month, the Miller Place Inn was fined $12,000 for hosting a Sweet 16 party that led to more than 35 cases – «Long Island’s first superspreader event, Bellone called it.

The county executive noted that such events, whether legal or not, can quickly unravel the tenuous control that the area has gained over the virus since the spring, when the county was an early epicenter of cases.

He cautioned that with Halloween this weekend, he knows people will want to get together — but he urged them to take precautions and follow official guidance to limit the spread of the virus. He pointed to renewed lockdowns in nearby New Jersey and as well as Europe.

«Because when you don’t, we now have clear examples of what happens, and what can happen. And we don’t want to see this happen again, Bellone said. «We have come too far to go back now.