Hey, What About Us?

In a press release sent out late last week in response to the perplexing new guidance from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention — stating that it was unnecessary for someone to get tested for COVID-19 simply because they came in contact with someone who has tested positive, a reversal from earlier guidance from the CDC — Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said the county would instead launch a public service campaign encouraging people to get tested.

While the county executive is correct in questioning the confusing new message from the CDC — people should, in fact, get tested in that situation to help maintain the current infection rate, the lowest that it’s been here since early March, when the pandemic first reached the county — there was a perplexing element of Mr. Bellone’s release itself.

The public service campaign attempts to highlight the ability of residents to conveniently get tested for free, listing 20 sites across the county where free testing is performed. But not a single site listed is on the South Fork. The closest sites are in Center Moriches, Manorville and Wading River.

Of course, the county also highlighted an additional 80 sites across the county where testing would be performed — for a fee, or covered by insurance. But there certainly are East End residents who would benefit from the free service. What about us, Mr. Bellone?

The county executive notes that if a second wave is to be avoided, and if the region hopes to keep the infection rate below 1 percent, “testing must be a top priority.” Making those tests available for free to South Fork residents must also be a priority.