Dear Quogue Residents,
It has been a few weeks since I last had the chance to send out a general email. The following are a few updates on the coronavirus measures imposed by the State of New York in case you missed them.
All adults age 60 or older and all persons over age 16 with certain medical conditions that increase their risk of moderate or severe illness or death from the coronavirus are now eligible to be vaccinated in New York, along with other specific priority groups. Click for a full description of groups that are eligible and be alert for changes. As of today, pharmacies are able to vaccinate individuals with these conditions in addition to people over age 60 and teachers.
Last Friday New York State opened a new vaccination site in our area at the Southampton campus of Stony Brook University. Appointments at this and other state-run vaccination sites are being made through the State’s “Am I Eligible” tool at the link above or by calling 1-833-NYS–4–VAX (1-833-697-4829).
Do you have to quarantine or not if you have been exposed to someone with Covid-19? It depends, of course. Have you been vaccinated? How long ago? Have you been diagnosed in the past with Covid-19 and recovered? How long ago? Check out this NY Department of Health advisory if this situation applies to you.
What if you have been travelling? Internationally? Domestically? Contiguous state? Non-contiguous state? Been vaccinated? It’s confusing. See COVID-19 travel advisory for details.
Things are about to get easier, however. On April 1, travelers entering NY from another state or U.S. territory will no longer be required to quarantine. International travel quarantine requirements continue to be in place.
Did your favorite restaurant seem a little more snug over the weekend? It might be because on Friday the maximum indoor capacity increased from 50% to 75% (except in New York City, where it remains at 35%).
Thinking about a party? As of today, outdoor residential gatherings can have up to 25 people. Indoors you have to stick with 10. Non-residential social gatherings can now have up to 100 people indoors and 200 outdoors. Also effective today, your indoor yoga or other fitness class can resume at 33% capacity. On April 5, you will be able to attend the class after 11:00 pm as that curfew is lifted for gyms, movie theaters and other entertainment venues but not for food and beverage establishments.
Whether you want to take advantage of some of this loosening is up to you, but in any case remember to wear a mask, maintain social distancing guidelines and wash your hands frequently. In short, be careful.
Applications for beach stickers will be available on April 1 and will be sent by email as usual to those on our list. Protocols for this year at the Village Beach remain to be determined.
Confirmed cumulative Covid-19 cases in Quogue are at 62, according to the Suffolk County case tracker, up from 60 about three weeks ago.
Peter Sartorius
Mayor