Businesses Modify Practices Amid COVID-19 Worries

PATCHOGUE, NY — Starbucks isn't the only business that has made changes to service protocols as concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus mount. Long Island businesses in the food and service industries are announcing new policies to both curb any possible transmission as well as to reassure customers. Blue Point Brew Pub in Patchogue is one business that has issued an official announcement to customers, partially due to the announcement that the one Suffolk confirmed case of COVID-19 was an employee at Greenport Harbor Brewery in Peconic.

"While the risk of contracting COVID-19 in the United States remains low, we will continue to monitor and update as necessary, following the advice of the Center for Disease Control and local health authorities. ⁠The health and safety of our visitors is of the highest concern to us at all times. This priority is particularly heightened due to new cases of COVID-19 on Long Island and within the brewing community," the company announced on their Facebook page Tuesday.

The brewery will begin serving beer in single use cups. Condiment and utensil caddies will be removed from dining tables. The brewery will continue to be open during normal hours, and hand sanitizing stations are being added to the building.

Blue Point Brew Pub has not announced any plans to cancel the popular upcoming Cask Ales festival on April 18th.

And it's not just restaurant and bars that are introducing new measures, but also businesses like car washes that see an influx of customers coming in and out every day. Miami Car Wash in East Meadow sent a messages to customers on Tuesday amid growing cases in Nassau County.

"Management is staying after closing time every night to disinfect all high profile contact surfaces such as door handles, seats, bathroom faucets, and credit credit card terminals. Attendants are now instructed to wash hands in between servicing vehicles or will be wearing disposable nitrile gloves in order to limit exposure."