COVID-19: News & Updates

Stay Connected with the Y and answers to common questions.

COVID-19 Situation

As the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to develop, the YMCA of Long Island is closely monitoring information and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), New York State Department of Health (DOH), as well as the Nassau and Suffolk Health Departments.

What is Coronavirus?

According to the CDC, the novel Coronavirus is part of a large family of viruses common in people and many different species of animals. The virus causes a respiratory illness, called COVID-19, and can spread from person to person. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Read more from the CDC.

Keeping Members Safe

The YMCA of Long Island has instituted a new program called YCare&Clean to keep our members and staff healthy, safe, and preventing the spread of illness.

Download YCare&Clean Flyer for more information.

What Can You Do?

The CDC recommends the following precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19:

Stay home if you are sick. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing and dispose of the tissue in the trash.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Wear a proper face covering over your mouth and nose, such as a cloth-based face mask.
Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
Do not shake hands. Instead, wave or elbow bump.
If you have family or friends who are elderly, have compromised immune systems or chronic respiratory or coronary issues, do not visit them if you feel sick.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or disinfecting wipes.
Get your flu shot. Although the flu shot will not protect you from COVID-19, it will help prevent the flu which has similar symptoms to this Coronavirus.

Read more from the CDC: How to protect yourself & others

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Now that the Y has reopened, what programs are you running?

The Y has slowly and steadily reopening our programs and services to our members. Please visit our Reopening Guide online for all the information you need on what programs we are offerings, how we are keeping members and staff safe, and our new protocols and procedures before you visit the Y.

What do I do if I think I was exposed to the coronavirus?

We urge you to follow all guidance from public health officials. If you have concerns about your health, the New York State Department of Health has a Coronavirus hotline you can call at 1-888-364-3065.

How can I stay connected if I am not comfortable returning the Y in-person?

Staying connected matters. Our branches have reopened for programming but YMCA @ Home is here to help you, your family, and our community stay active and engaged. We have virtual workout videos, family activities, wellness tips, and more.

How does the Y's reopening affect my Membership?

Your membership has been automatically reinstated as of our August 31st reopening. You will be billed your current membership rate on the 15th of every month, beginning September 15. If you already reactivated your membership during our temporary closure (thank you!), you will continue to be billed on the 27th of the month. For Annual Members, your membership will be automatically extended for the period of time the Y was closed.
*Due to COVID-19, the Y will only be accepting major credit and debit cards as payment. Cash and Checks will not be accepted until further notice.

How can I support the Y's community efforts that are greatly needed during this pandemic?

A donation to the Y during this crisis will allow us to operate community services including child care, counseling services for adults and children, and more.

Thank you for supporting the Y. A meaningful gift can be made online on our donation page.

I paid for program classes in March before you closed. Will you be crediting my account?

On March 16, the YMCA closed its doors as mandated by Governor Andrew Cuomo. As a result, our YMCA programs including child care, swim lessons, youth sports, and cultural arts, as well as access to the Y for your workouts ended abruptly.

At the YMCA of Long Island, we will always do the right thing for our members and the communities we serve.

Once our doors closed, we immediately shifted operations to provide Emergency Child Care for essential personnel, telehealth counseling services through our YMCA Family Services branch, and implemented the YMCA Emergency Staff Relief Fund for our furloughed staff. We also created YMCA @ Home to bring resources to our members of all ages and interests.

We ask that you allow us to credit you for any unused portion of your membership or program. A credit was applied when we reopened our doors.

Of course, during these challenging times, we understand if you require a refund. If this is the case, please complete this Refund Form and it will be sent directly to your Y branch to be processed. Please keep in mind during this time, it may take longer than normal to process your refund.

Is Preschool and School Age Child Care running?

The Y is operating Preschool at our Glen Cove, Bay Shore, Huntington and Patchogue locations. We are also working closely with all local school districts in accordance with their 2020-2021 Reopening Plans to operate our Before and After School Programs. For the 2020-2021 School Year, we have launched a new program, Y Student Support Centers that support Kindergarten through 6th grade students learning on a virtual or hybrid schedule. We provide structured and supervised time dedicated to virtual learning, school work, age-appropriate enrichment and physical activity.

Learn more or Register for our 2020-2021 Child Care programs. If you have any questions, please call us at 855-2YMCALI or email us at Childcare@ymcali.org.

If I have any questions about my membership or your current programs, who should I contact?

If you have any questions, please call 855-2YMCALI or email us at Membership@ymcali.org.