ALBANY COUNTY — Eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination opened up during the county’s 55th week of dealing with the pandemic as did more venues and activities — including college sports and nursing home visits.

A study released Tuesday by the United States Geological Survey found that the risk is low that scientists could pass the coronavirus to North American bats during winter research.

On Monday morning, Albany County officials pushed to have young adults eligible for COVID-19 vaccination as they are the most likely to be infected and spread the disease. On Monday afternoon, the governor announced that, beginning April 6, New Yorkers 16 and older will be eligible to get the vaccine. 

Albany County, like the rest of the state and nation, has seen an increase in infections following holiday gatherings — Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and most notably the spike that started with Thanksgiving through the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

GUILDERLAND — Blake Spears, 40, of Westmere, was sentenced on Friday to 300 months in prison for sexually exploiting a child.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Thomas F. Relford, special agent in charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

With vaccination ramping up, there is a nationwide slowdown in COVID-19 testing. “COVID-19 tests are available and we need people to continue to be tested as we strive to get more people vaccinated,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy.

On Friday, Cuomo announced a partnership to vaccinate through primary-care physicians in a New York City-based network, while Congressman Paul Tonko and others called on the White House to have primary-care doctors administer the COVID-19 vaccines.

“Our goal,” said Guilderland Supervisor Peter Barber at the time the recent pathways planning started, “is to make it a more walkable community.”

GUILDERLAND — Water service was restored on Sunday after a water main broke on Saturday afternoon near Route 155 and Regency Park in Guilderland.

“This is a budget about sustaining what we have,” said Guilderland schools Superintendent Marie Wiles of next year’s spending proposal.