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To beach or not to beach: Gov. Cuomo weighs Suffolk County’s Memorial Day re-open plan

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The fate of a plan to re-open two Suffolk County beaches on Memorial Day weekend this month is in the hands of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone wants to kick the tires on a re-opening plan for Suffolk by opening Smithpoint Beach and Cupsogue Beach county parks and unofficially launch summer on Long Island.

“I asked @NYGovCuomo to allow Smith Point County Park and Cupsogue Beach County Park beaches to open on #MemorialDay,” Bellone said in a Tweet. “Our plan would allow remaining beaches to open during the third week of June. We can do this – and do it safely.”

Under the COVID-19 Response Strategic Plan for Opening of Suffolk County, beachgoers won’t be required to wear face covering or a mask when on the beach or while bathing the water. However, visitors will have to wear a face covering or mask in any other public area inside the park, including :

  • The deck/boardwalk.
  • Stairs leading to the deck/boardwalk.
  • Restrooms.
  • Concession area.
  • Any other public area other than the beach or water.

There have been nearly 42,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Suffolk, including 1,000 in the Greater Sayville area.

Other Suffolk County lifeguarded beaches will open the third weekend in June, according to the plan sent to the governor.

All of the beaches will have beefed up public safety and other staffing to ensure the public complies with public health and safety rules and guidelines designed to slow the spread of COVID-19, the plan says.

The virus is to blame for at least 1,697 deaths in Suffolk County, including 17 deaths over the last day recorded. There have been nearly 42,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Suffolk, including 1,000 in the Greater Sayville area.

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