ALBANY COUNTY — In the midst of Wednesday afternoon’s fierce rain and wind storm, the county’s 9-1-1 center processed over 2,600 calls within two hours, according to Sheriff Craig Apple.

One of those calls was placed by a woman in labor, giving birth to twins. 

“We all need to realize our individual behavior will play into what happens in the coming days and weeks,” said Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen at Friday morning’s press briefing.

Albany County sees clusters of high infection rates downstate as “a warning sign” locally.

Fighting the coronavirus outbreaks in hotspots, mostly downstate, was the governor’s focus this week while Albany County, far from being a hotspot, continued with an uptick in cases.

“It was scary,” said Bill Quay of the storm that tore through his Sunset Drive neighborhood. “I’ve never seen it blow so hard. The rain was coming sideways.”

“We’re already behind. We have racism in every facet of life. That’s how we live,” said Wanda Willingham who represents Arbor Hill in the Albany County Legislature. She heads a task force, looking at the impact of the pandemic on local businesses.

Governor Andrew announced a Cluster Action Initiative today to deal with COVID-19 hotspots in Brooklyn and Queens in New York City and in Rockland, Orange, and Broome counties.

BETHLEHEM — The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy has opened its 20th preserve: The 49-acre property was the original homestead of the Touhey family and is what remains of the more than 100-acre farm that stretched from Orchard Street to Delaware Avenue.

ALBANY COUNTY — Robert G. Porter, who worked in law enforcement for the Marines for 21 years, is making his second run against incumbent Democratic Assemblywoman Patricia A. Fahy to represent the 109th District.

“I have to say to the Orthodox community tomorrow, if you’re not willing to live with these rules, then I’m going to close the synagogues,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo in a press briefing on Monday. He prioritized schools, religious gatherings, public spaces, and finally businesses as causes for COVID-19 spread in a score of downstate hotspots.