A Safe Path Forward

Last week’s Zoom-driven Press Sessions conversation, which focused on the changing nature of small-town business districts in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, offered a great deal of insight, from both business owners and local officials.

But perhaps the most important note came toward the end, from the two medical professionals on the panel: Patricia Mupo, the head of infection prevention at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead, and Holly Fischer, an infection preventionist on her staff. They made two crucial points that the region must hear, loud and clear, as the reopening begins.

The first is a hopeful note: She pointed out that, despite the obvious presence of the novel coronavirus in the hospital, and the need for staff to interact closely with those patients daily, there were no instances of transmission from patient to patient at the hospital. (The same was true at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.)

That is a powerful statement of the efficacy of simple measures, including the use of masks, hand washing and basic social distancing when possible. It demonstrates, as Ms. Mupo said, that “it’s definitely possible to put these measures in place and be successful.” It means, thankfully, we can be confident there is a strategy to reopening businesses safely — if everyone follows the simple, basic new rules of interaction.

The second point, Ms. Mupo noted, is communicating that to a nervous public: “Educating our communities, continuing to educate our staff and our businesses and following some of the very basics will allow us to do this safely.”

That’s where the onus is back on businesses: Adopt the measures, do it visibly, and make sure customers both know what you’re doing and what is expected of them. With that, confidence will return, and both businesses and consumers can safely start to find a comfort level that’s necessary for a true recovery.