There is evidence to suggest that some of the mutations in the P.1 variant may affect its transmissibility and antigenic profile, the CDC says, which may affect the ability of antibodies generated through a previous natural infection or through vaccination to recognize and neutralize the virus.

While few small businesses report that revenues are growing, most are no longer seeing declines: only 27 percent reported declines in the first week of March while 65 percent reported no change.

So far, 30.4 percent of Albany County residents have gotten a first dose of vaccine and 15.4 percent have completed a series of two doses, McCoy said. Statewide, 24.6 percent of New Yorkers have received a first dose, and 12.7 have completed a vaccination series, according to the state’s vaccine tracker. At least 70 percent is needed for herd immunity.

“If you are, care for, or are aware of a homebound person, please send an email, with contact information, to or call EMS’s vaccine program at 518-579-3737 for more information about eligibility and appointments …,” Guilderland Supervisor Peter Barber wrote in an email.

“We don’t necessarily think office is going away. It’s going to change,” said Jeff Mirel, a principal with Rosenblum Development. “What we predict is more of a hybrid approach where office will become the center of workplace culture. It is where training will happen, where collaboration will happen. But folks may not be in the office every day of the week.”

Albany County’s unemployment rate for January 2021 was 6.0 percent. The rate for the Albany-Schenectady-Troy area was the same: 6.0 percent, up from 3.9 percent in January 2020 before the pandemic hit. Albany County had roughly 147,400 jobs in January 2021 compared to roughly 151,000 the year before, a decrease of 3.7 percent.

“I was elected by the people of the state, I wasn’t elected by politicians,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said on March 7 as he stated he wouldn’t resign because of allegations. Since then, many more politicians, including top Democrats at the state and federal level, have called for his resignation. On Monday, Siena College released a poll that showed New Yorkers feel he should not resign and the majority are satisfied with the way he has addressed the sexual harassment allegations against him.

Guilderland’s Emergency Medical Services Department ambulances transported 61 COVID-19 town residents in January and 19 residents in February, Supervisor Peter Barber reported, but has transported only two residents so far in March.

Currently 27.5 percent of Albany County’s residents have received at least one shot of vaccine, according to the state’s vaccine tracker. A total of 84,459 residents have received one shot while 43,087 have received two shots.

While the county’s health department with its many medical corps volunteers will continue to run its large point of dispensing, or POD, at the Times Union Center in Albany, Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen said, she looks forward to re-allocating some of the county’s supply to “small break-out clinics.”