The rare shutdown took place from Thursday afternoon through midday Friday. 

So far, officials haven't identified a reason for the sudden and apparently short-lived spike in bacteria levels, which resulted in red flags at Jones Beach from 3 p.m. Thursday through noon Friday. 

High bacteria levels are all too common in Long Island's bays, harbors, lakes and the sounds; they are extremely rare in the open Atlantic. Jones Beach lifeguards can't remember the last time bacteria levels caused a closure. 

"We have officers for 20 to 25 years plus and they've never closed the beach before," Jones Beach lifeguard boatswain Ethan Giventer said. 

It was a disappointment for many beachgoers. 

"I was very surprised at the tollbooth when there was no charge," Douglaston resident Michael Russo said. "I didn't know it was a bacteria situation."

State beaches are sampled at least once a week for indicators of water quality. The reading that triggered this closure - 350 - was more than three times the state threshold for ocean water. A new round of testing, however, came back within state limits, and by noon the red flags came down.

Officials did not immediately know what caused the high reading, and are even considering the possibility of a testing error.

A 77-year-old who drove from upstate New York for his annual bodysurf in the ocean was among the first back in.

"I didn't drink it and I'm not shampooing in it," Dr. Charlie Capanzano said. "We live in a sea of bacteria."

"I'm a little leery. I mean, one minute you can't go in or even wash your hands, and the next minute later, you can go in. It's scary to me," Joy Cacioli said.

By Friday afternoon, swimmers were back in the water, and even dolphins were making an appearance.

With all the things beachgoers worry about, including rip currents and sharks, bacteria isn't usually one of them. They're hoping it's just a one-day anomaly.

New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin said in a post on X that the two patients had been diagnosed with the disease weeks ago, and no one has reported new symptoms in over three weeks.

A total of nine people have died in connection to the outbreak.

According to Martin, the source of the outbreak has been eliminated, and those in the impacted area – which included ZIP codes 10128, 10028 and 10075 – are no longer at increased risk of exposure.

Martin says one person remains hospitalized, and the health department is still monitoring for anyone who may have been sickened.

The investigation into the outbreak is ongoing, health officials say.

The cluster of cases on the Upper East Side was first reported on July 3. A total of 92 people tested positive, as of July 30, according to the health department.

Nearly 60 cooling towers in the impacted area that were tested came back positive for live Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaires' disease, the health department reported. All buildings that tested positive have since drained, cleaned and disinfected their towers.

In the wake of the outbreak, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed new legislation strengthening inspections on New York City cooling towers. It requires twice yearly certifications, faster remediation and stiffer penalties for violations.

Twelve companies have filed requests with the State Department of Financial Services (DFS) to charge customers who buy their own health insurance more. 

Trainer Gene Schafer and his wife pay roughly $1,800 each month, and their insurer, Oscar, is seeking to raise it to about $2,200. 

"Nobody increases their rates for any of their businesses by 23%. I mean that would be an outrage," Schafer said.

Other insurance companies have also filed requests.

Anthem is seeking an 11% increase, Healthfirst wants nearly 15%, and Fidelis is looking for 28%. 

"Anthem's proposed rates reflect the expected cost of care for 2027. We're seeing increased use of higher-cost services, including emergency room care, behavioral health services, and specialty prescription drugs, along with rising healthcare costs overall," a statement from the company read.

Why are premiums going up?

Insurance companies say the biggest drivers for their rate requests include rising hospital costs, specialty prescription drugs and the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits.

UnitedHealthcare is requesting the largest increase of 52.1%.

"Our requested rates reflect significant year-over-year increases in medical costs, driven by higher hospital prices, increased utilization, and rising specialty drug costs. We remain committed to working with state regulators to ensure rates are fair, reflect the true cost of care, and maintain market stability," a statement read.

Emblem, which is requesting 26.8%, also noted similar reasons.

"EmblemHealth's filed rate increase for the individual market reflects rising hospital costs, increased specialty drug utilization and costs, and the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits," a spokesperson said.  

The rate increases are not final yet

The increases won't take effect unless DFS approves them. 

Schafer said he and his wife have been happy with Oscar as their insurance provider.

"We've had good luck with Oscar. They do a nice job," he said.

He said the price has gone up every year.   

"I kind of hold my breath, and hopefully it doesn't pass," Schafer said. "It's a question of 'how do you fix this?' and I don't know the answer."

If you have received a notice about your premium going up, don't panic just yet. Last year, insurers asked for an average increase of about 13%, but DFS cut that to 7%. Data shows requests fell for two years before jumping back for 2027, which nearly matches the 2024 high.  

Consumer Advocate Elisabeth Benjamin said the agency reviews each request, analyzing medical claims, costs and other financial data. She said customers should write to the department so their voices can be heard.

"They read every single one of those comments," she said.

Benjamin recommends anyone who buys their insurance on their own should shop through the state marketplace.

"It's quite likely that you're eligible for a discount," she said. "The catch is you have to do it through the marketplace."

The state is expected to release its final approved rates later this month.

Insurance companies weigh in

CBS News New York reached out to each insurance company that requested a rate increase. 

Statement from CDPHP:

"While health care costs continue to rise, the 2027 CDPHP individual market rate request reflects our ongoing commitment to prudent financial management and operational efficiency. Though this population is relatively small and costs may fluctuate from year to year, a continued focus on value has enabled us to keep our requested premium increase moderate while maintaining access to high-quality care.

Our affiliation with The Lifetime Healthcare Companies further strengthens that effort. As part of a larger organization, we are able to share expertise, streamline operations, and gain economies of scale that help contain costs and enhance the value we deliver to members and the communities we serve.

"We recognize that any increase can be challenging for individuals and families. That's why we remain focused on addressing the underlying drivers of health care costs. We believe these efforts position us to maintain long-term stability and affordability in an increasingly complex health care environment."

Statement from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield:

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield limits rate increases to the lowest amounts possible to cover rising healthcare costs while also maintaining the financial health of our nonprofit health plan.  

Premium rates are primarily the result of the cost and demand for medical care and prescription drugs. Most of what we collect in premiums is spent on member care. Last year, we spent 92 cents out of every premium dollar on healthcare for our members, including doctor visits, hospital stays and prescription drugs. 

Here are examples of what's driving the 2027 rate increase requests for small group and individual plans:

• About half of the rate increase requests are due to rising hospital costs, including increases in hip and knee surgeries, heart procedures and cancer infusion therapies.
• About a third of the rate increase requests are due to rising prescription drug costs - driven largely by high prices for speciality medications and substantial increases in the use of GLP-1 drugs. 

Statement from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield :

As a not-for-profit health plan, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield recognizes the financial pressures individuals and small businesses face as healthcare costs rise, and affordability grows as a nationwide issue also affecting energy, housing and food prices.

Our proposed 2027 rates for individual and small group products, which impacts less than 10% of our members, reflect the growing cost of medical care in the communities we serve. This is driven by increased hospital and prescription drug costs, as well as the impact of New York regulatory mandates, taxes, and fees.

With more than 90 cents of every dollar we collect spent on our members' care, Highmark actively collaborates with policymakers, providers, and community partners to address the underlying cost drivers. As part of this effort, we also invest in innovative solutions to expand access, improve health outcomes, and deliver greater value for our members.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly attributed Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield's statement. That has been corrected. 

In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS News partner BBC News late on Friday, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father's condition, describing it as very sad to watch.

"The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further," he said. "It's very painful and it's very debilitating in many respects."

Joe Biden, 83, was the oldest man to serve as U.S. president and his age was a source of concern for much of his four years in office. He and his White House advisers have faced intense criticism for allegedly concealing the extent of his problems, especially after he was forced to abandon his bid for reelection after a disastrous debate with his eventual successor, President Trump.

The former president revealed his cancer diagnosis in May of last year, less than four months after he left the White House.

At the time, his office said that his cancer was diagnosed with a Gleason score of 9, which placed him in Grade Group 5, the most severe category.

Last September, the former president also underwent surgery for skin cancer in a procedure that involves cutting away thin layers of skin until only cancer-free tissue remains in the treated area. And last October, he underwent a round of radiation therapy for his prostate cancer, his office said.

In an interview with CBS News in May, former first lady Jill Biden said it was a shock when the family learned of the diagnosis.

"Honestly, I can remember getting the diagnosis, and it was just shocking," she said.

She also indicated that the cancer was not discovered while he was serving in the White House.

"Well, you know the doctors said that, according to the American Urological Association, that men over 70 don't need a PSA, a blood test, anymore because it's a slow-growing cancer … I do feel we had amazing care in the White House, but somehow that was missed," she said at the time.

Hunter Biden said the diagnosis had been tough on the family.

"It's really sad to watch," Hunter Biden said. "The only thing that I'd say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more, because it's not good."

But Hunter Biden said his father remains "out there," speaking publicly about the issues that are important to him.

"He's still doing his thing," he said. "He so believes in this country."

The former president will publish a memoir, "Promise Me, America," after the midterm elections.

The New York Hotel and Gaming Trades Council claims The High Line Hotel tested positive for the bacteria, which causes Legionnaires' disease, several weeks ago and then again on July 23.

"Now that this latest incident has been made public, we hope they will take any and all steps necessary to ensure worker and public safety is met," Council President Rich Maroko said.

The city health department says it tested the building on July 1 and found nothing, but they are now testing it again after receiving another complaint on Thursday.

A spokesman for the health department said:

"Protecting the health and safety of New Yorkers is our top priority. The Health Department received a complaint regarding the maintenance of a cooling tower at this location on August 6 and acted immediately to ensure local laws and regulations are being followed. We've made contact with both hotel management and the union representing workers and all parties are cooperating to ensure the proper steps are being followed to prevent bacteria growth and protect public health. All New Yorkers and hotel guests are able to continue to use the building systems without interruption."

CBS News New York reached out multiple times to MCR, the company which owns the hotel, and they have not yet commented.

This comes after seven people died this summer from a Legionnaires' disease cluster on the Upper East Side. The disease is caused by Legionella bacteria, which can grow in cooling towers and spread through water vapor or mist in open air.

This week, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law new requirements for buildings to have twice-yearly cooling tower certifications along with stiffer penalties for violations.

Families affected by the 2025 outbreak stood alongside attorney Ben Crump and the Rev. Al Sharpton to announce four lawsuits.

They will target the city, NYC Health + Hospitals, the construction company Skanska USA, and contractors responsible for maintaining cooling towers. They claim cooling towers connected to the outbreak weren't properly tested, treated or maintained, and people weren't warned quickly enough about the danger.

The outbreak lasted several weeks before health officials declared it over. In total, 118 people became sick and seven died. 

"The dots have been connected. We don't want the city to delay this matter. We don't want anyone to ever sweep the lives of the citizens of Harlem under the rug," Crump said.

Investigators linked the outbreak to 12 cooling towers across Central Harlem, including towers at Harlem Hospital and the city's Public Health Laboratory.

A law department spokesperson for NYC Health + Hospitals said they will review the cases.

"Protecting public health and safety is at the center of the City's response," a statement read.

Skanska USA declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Harlemite Lakisha Plowden says her fiancé, Bruce Scott, died from Legionnaires' disease, and now their 6-year-old daughter is growing up without her dad.

"She gets grief therapy. I get grief therapy," Plowden said. "He was a very good father, a very good person ... He passed away holding my hand in Harlem Hospital."

This comes as health officials recently announced there is no longer an elevated risk of exposure to Legionnaires' disease on the Upper East Side. Seven people died, and 92 people tested positive in connection to the cluster.

A widow of one of the victims said she plans to file a lawsuit after health officials determine the source of the outbreak.

"The intended action will target the owner of an Upper East Side building who failed to properly maintain its rooftop cooling tower," her attorney said.

In the wake of that outbreak, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation aimed at strengthening inspection requirements for cooling towers. The law, signed Wednesday, requires twice-yearly certifications, faster remediation and stiffer penalties for violations.

But attorneys say those changes don't erase what happened last summer.

Affected families say that while Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration has been responsive to this year's outbreak, someone still needs to be held accountable.

"We don't begrudge the attention given the East Side because everybody suffered and we should deal with that, but don't leave us in the dark," Sharpton said.

The law requires twice yearly certifications, faster remediation and stiffer penalties for violations. Building owners could face fines of more than $12,000 for a violation that results in a death or serious injury.

This comes after seven deaths were reported in connection to a Legionnaires' disease cluster on the Upper East Side. A total of 92 people tested positive for the disease, and dozens were hospitalized.

Health officials believe the disease was spread through water vapor containing live Legionella bacteria from a cooling tower in the impacted area. The city health department says they are confident the source of the bacteria has been eliminated, and people in the area are no longer at risk of exposure.

"Protecting the health and safety of New Yorkers is my highest priority," Hochul said in a statement. "Recent outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease underscore the urgency of certification requirements, and we look forward to working with the City to ensure New Yorkers are protected against these public health threats."

"Keeping New Yorkers safe means preventing outbreaks before they happen by holding building owners accountable for maintaining their cooling towers. New York City has the strongest cooling tower regulations in the country, requiring regular inspections, maintenance and testing to stop Legionella bacteria from spreading," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement. "Every year, we hold owners accountable with hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, and we welcome any opportunity to strengthen these protections even further. Every New Yorker deserves to know that their city is doing everything possible to protect their health."

Last year, a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Harlem also claimed the lives of seven people and sickened more than 100.

Wednesday, attorney Ben Crump and others said they planned to file lawsuits against New York City, NYC Health + Hospitals and contractors in connection to that deadly outbreak. The lawsuits will allege defendants failed to properly test and maintain cooling towers, including at Harlem Hospital.

The city has not yet responded.

Health officials said that, as of Friday, the incubation period for new cases has passed. 

The cluster associated with seven deaths affected ZIP codes 10028, 10075 and 10128. As of Thursday, there were 92 cases of Legionnaires' associated with the cluster, with 79 requiring hospitalization. Five of them are still in the hospital.   

The last day anyone who lives, works or visited the area began feeling symptoms was two weeks ago. 

"The moment we identified a potential community cluster, we mobilized more than 260 Health Department staff, tested every cooling tower in the affected area, and directed every building with an initial positive test to immediately clean and disinfect its cooling tower, before we ever confirmed live Legionella bacteria were present," said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin. 

Now that all 82 affected towers have been fully drained, cleaned and disinfected, "the source of exposure has been eliminated," according to the DOH. 

The DOH said 60% of inspections on infected towers resulted in at least one violation. Owners who had violations were issued citations and fines.  

Officials are continuing to investigate the source of the Legionella bacteria associated with the cluster. 

A seventh person has died from Legionnaires' disease in connection with the Upper East Side cluster, New York City's health commissioner said Thursday. 

That cluster has been affecting residents in the 10028, 10075 and 10128 ZIP codes. 

"At this time, we have inspected every cooling tower that has tested positive and will share more information soon [on] enforcement actions," Dr. Alister Martin wrote on social media. "As it stands, we believe the source of exposure has been eliminated as no one has reported symptoms in the last two weeks. There are currently 92 cases, 5 individuals in the hospital, and 67 patients no longer in the hospital." 

An attorney representing the widow of one of the victims who died is planning to file a lawsuit once the city determines the source of the outbreak.

Anyone who spends time in the affected areas and experiences flu-like symptoms should seek medical attention, health officials say.

Tenants rally in the East Village 

The city Department of Health confirmed two cases of the disease connected to Haven Plaza, an affordable housing complex in the East Village. 

Councilmember Harvey Epstein also said a third case was reported to his office, but the DOH says there is no third case. 

City officials say the East Village investigation is unrelated to the Upper East Side cluster because it's centered on the internal plumbing, rather than a cooling tower.   

Residents of the four buildings that make up Haven Plaza on Avenue C say they've been dealing with water problems there for at least two months. In May, the health department launched an investigation at the building after confirming the second case of Legionnaires' disease in the building in a year. 

Felix Sicardo said he was the first case back in May of last year. 

"I collapsed in my apartment," Sicardo said. "I'm afraid, so I buy water now." 

A spokesperson for the health department said the matter could take months to resolve since it is tied to the building's plumbing system. In a June memo, the health department told residents over 50 not to take a shower since it could create mist. Instead, they were told to take a bath. 

Resident Yvette Lopez, who has lupus, has been carting over water from a friend.   

"Give us water ... give us some lower rent because we're paying rent for services not rendered," Lopez said. 

"People here are hearing different information," Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said. 

"This is an older population, with many tenants with disabilities. They deserve attention," Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said. 

"The Department is not only currently evaluating the building's water system, but has ordered the building to conduct plumbing and mechanical work to their water system," a health department spokesperson said, adding the agency has provided regular guidance. 

The landlord, Catholic Homes, and Wavecrest Management said that when they learned of the second Legionnaires' disease case in May, "property management implemented a full testing program, followed by the remediation that began this week. Management is fully committed to the health and safety of the residents."

"The planning took over four weeks. That shouldn't be," resident Dana Cruz said. "They're not helping us with filters. They're not helping us with water when it shuts off. They're not helping us with anything." 

The building's management did not respond to CBS News New York's questions about whether residents will get a rent abatement. 

Legionella bacteria found on Long Island cooling tower

A cooling tower on the roof of the Riverhead Supreme Court in Suffolk County tested positive for Legionella. 

The tower underwent disinfection Tuesday and will be retested within three to seven days, according to county officials.

They said the affected tower is only used to cool the refrigerant, and no contaminated air was circulated into the building. 

When Hoffman left her apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side on Oct. 23, 2024, her heart was the last thing on her mind. She was saddled with her work bag and purse, hightailing it to the subway station so she could make it to work on time. That's when her memory of the day ends. 

Shortly into her walk, Hoffman experienced a sudden cardiac arrest. Her heart stopped beating. She collapsed to the ground. Doctors later told her it was a severe arrhythmia that could have been fatal — if not for where Hoffman fell. 

Hoffman had collapsed outside Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Breast and Imaging Center, about two and a half blocks from her subway station. A patient care technician and a passing runner immediately rushed to her aid. Then, Memorial Sloan Kettering nurses Sabrina Castle and Gianna Formisano stumbled upon the scene while walking to work. 

"We were so shocked. When we were walking up, people were like 'Nurses, nurses!' We didn't know what we were walking into," Formisano said. "People were grabbing our coffee, taking our bags. It was out of a movie, the way that they were like 'Oh, thank God you're here.'" 

"They absolutely saved my life"  

Formisano and Castle took over performing CPR, keeping Hoffman's heart manually beating. She didn't have a pulse, and she had hit her head when she collapsed. The nurses also instructed one of the other bystanders to call an ambulance. 

Early CPR increases survival for patients in cardiac arrest by "at least two or three fold," said Dr. Jessica Hennessey, a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Early CPR means that blood flow to the brain and heart continues, preserving the health of those organs. Bystanders in a medical emergency should call 911 and immediately start CPR, Hennessey advised. CPR can be done with mouth-to-mouth or with just chest compressions, Hennessey said. 

After five minutes that "felt like forever," the ambulance arrived, Formisano said. Castle and Formisano helped the EMTs load Hoffman into the ambulance. Then, she was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian's cardiac care unit for further treatment. 

For the small crowd, the day carried on. Castle and Formisano headed to work. After a few hours, they called NewYork-Presbyterian to see if they could find out more about Hoffman's status. They went to the hospital and spoke to a nurse there. 

"She was like, 'You got her back. She's intubated, she's alive, you saved her life,'" Castle recalled.  

Hoffman was still unconscious. She told CBS News that she didn't wake up until five days after the collapse. Her family told her that she had been rushed into surgery. Doctors told her that her heart had stopped for several minutes — and the actions of Castle, Formisano and other bystanders had saved her. 

"Without them, I was told, there was no doubt I would have died or been brain dead," Hoffman said. "They absolutely saved my life." 

Hoffman had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placed in her chest to prevent further cardiac arrests. The device shocks the heart if it detects an irregular heartbeat. She also began cardiac rehabilitation. Shortly after, she returned to work. Life began to get back to normal but one question was constantly at the back of her mind: Who had helped save her? 

A chance reunion 

While in cardiac rehabilitation, Hoffman found herself telling the story of the strangers who had helped her. A physiologist there overheard her talking about it and thought the story sounded familiar. His girlfriend was friends with two nurses who had helped a woman matching Hoffman's description. After some back and forth, the physiologist connected Hoffman with Castle and Formisano.

The trio immediately made plans to get dinner. Hoffman's husband joined them for the meal. There, the nurses were able to fill in the gaps of the October morning when Hoffman collapsed. 

"It was very jarring, when they gave my husband and I the blow-by-blow of that morning. There were things we did not know," Hoffman said. "It was pretty incredible." 

Since that dinner, the women have stayed in touch. Recently, Castle and Formisano even passed Hoffman on the same block where she had collapsed. The three took a photo at the site. 

"We were like, 'Wow, this is really crazy,'" Formisano said. "'We're running into you on the same spot, on your way to work, on our way to work, but now you're alive and well and in a much different state than when we met you the first time.'"