Some good numbers on Thursday came from the state’s Department of Labor, which announced the fifth straight month of declining unemployment rates in New York.

GUILDERLAND — The school district here, which started surveillance testing for COVID-19 on Jan. 15, announced today that a student at Pine Bush Elementary School had tested positive.

“We’re trying to serve all of our children … [in] mind and body and spirit during this very difficult school year,” said Guilderland Superintendent Marie Wiles.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have sounded the alarm on the highly transmissible variant of COVID-19 first identified in the United Kingdom, hastening the urgency for vaccination distribution.

On the revenue side, Guilderland has calculated state aid for next year’s budget, ranging from $20 million to nearly $25 million. Under the state-set tax-levy limit, the most Guilderland can raise in property taxes is about $76,000,000.

GUILDERLAND — Students in eighth through 12th grade here will move to fully remote learning because of staffing shortages caused by COVID-19.

“January continues to be on track to be the deadliest month since the outbreak started,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy.

An annual calendar is the result of an art contest launched in 2004 by the Foundation for Quality Care Inc., the New York State Health Facilities Association, and the New York State Center for Assisted Living.

Residents may dial 2-1-1 to learn about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine and how to sign up for a vaccination.

The governor wrote to Pfizer on Monday to see if New York State could purchase COVID-19 vaccine directly from the company that made it.