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The first results from the state’s antibody testing show that 13.9 percent of New Yorkers have COVID-19 antibodies, Governor Andrew Cuomo said at his press briefing on Thursday. The percentages were much higher downstate than upstate.

The county’s new five-volume strategic economic-development report is “designed to enhance quality of life and accelerate economic growth throughout Albany County.”

Albany County is “at a disadvantage for attracting private investment, business,” according to a county-funded report, which also makes strategic development recommendations to help the county with future job growth.

 “Every single system, every single way that we operate, we had to rethink in the last month,” said Marie Wiles, superintendent of the Guilderland schools.

“We are in a new economic reality. We are in a challenging economic landscape …,” the state’s comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli, said on Wednesday at the county’s press briefing. “We still don’t know where it’s headed so a lot of what we’re talking about is still very tentative information.” He estimated the state’s revenue losses could range from $10 billion to $15 billion.

“The irony is mindblowing. The taxpayers are losing out because of the state’s own computer problems … The state has denied the town funds as a result of the state’s own glitch. It was their fault,” says Andrew Farbstein, a consultant who helped Guilderland with its townwide revaluation last year.

“Quarantine the Sick, Not the Healthy!” said a sign held by a youngster at Wednesday’s protest. An hour before, Albany County’s health commissioner, Elizabeth Whalen, had explained once again that the coronavirus is often spread by people who are asymptomatic; they can feel fine as they pass along the disease without knowing they have it. COVID-19 is most lethal for the elderly and those with underlying health issues.

As New York State politicians at both the state and federal level join the call for the protection of dairy farmers, who, across the country, are reportedly experiencing such difficulties amid the coronavirus that many are dumping milk, The Enterprise spoke with local farmers about how they’re faring. 

Social distancing — as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — was not observed Wednesday afternoon as protesters crowded in front of the state capitol. They demanded an end to the “pause,” declared by the governor, which shut down schools and nonessential businesses until May 15 to flatten the curve of coronavirus infections, which had the potential to overwhelm the health-care system.

NEW SCOTLAND — The coronavirus crisis has started to take its toll on residents’ mental health, as police were able to talk a 64-year-old New Scotland woman off of a ledge at Thacher Park on Tuesday.

A COVID-19 maternity task force has been created to examine the best approach to authorizing and certifying additional dedicated birthing centers in an effort to provide mothers a safe alternative to already stressed hospitals amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Following a court decision that nullified the Berne Town Board’s decision to appoint Thomas Spargo, a convicted felon, as chairman of the town’s planning board, the town board now wants to expand the planning board from five members to seven, which would clear the way for reappointing Spargo.

ALBANY COUNTY — Elizabeth Whalen, Albany County’s health commissioner, said at Tuesday’s press briefing that her department has heard from area hospitals that the number of visits they are receiving for heart attacks, strokes, and other emergencies are “not what they normally are.”

Elizabeth Whalen

“The more testing availability we have, the more valid the data is,” Elizabeth Whalen, Albany County’s health commissioner. As she launched the Data Dashboard about the coronavirus, posted to the county’s website. She also said that data becomes more meaningful over time.

The state’s labor department has launched a new application for New Yorkers to apply for traditional Unemployment Insurance or the new COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

This one-stop-shop for unemployment benefits will not require New Yorkers to call the labor department.

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