Governor Andrew Cuomo said of televised Major League Baseball games, without fans in attendance, “I think it would be good for the economy, I think it would be good for the psyche, I think it would be good for the nation’s soul.”

The Albany County executive and the governor today called for aid to states and localities in the fifth federal stimulus package as the county continued to see more COVID-19 cases.

The number of Albany County residents under quarantine has increased from 892 on Sunday to 900 on Monday. “A couple of weeks ago, we were getting well under 150,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy.

As the governor continues to call for local enforcement of COVID regulations, and over 100 downstate establishments were issued violations over the weekend, Albany County still has no arrests.

For the fourth day in a row, the Capital Region, of which Albany County is a part, had the highest percentage of positive test results in the state — 1.6 percent.

Albany County COVID-19 cases, starting in the beginning of March, appeared to reach an apex in mid-April, then continued to largely decline through the four phases of reopening the economy. But now, over the last two weeks, new cases, followed by hospitalizations and deaths, are on the rise.

Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen drew a sharp line between “people flying in the face of what is recommended” — for example business owners flagrantly disregarding executive orders who might then face arrest — and what her department does. “What we do at the health department in terms of contact tracing and case investigation has no legal ties whatsoever,” said Whalen.

In a time of worry about youth unwittingly spreading COVID-19, local college leaders share their plans for reopening campuses.

The coronavirus uptick in Albany County continues with 29 new cases announced today and two more deaths.

Crossgates Mall was locked down after reports of gunfire on Wednesday afternoon. No one was injured, police say, and, as of Wednesday evening, no suspects were in custody.