The governor said it is possible that the increased infection rate in the Capital Region and elsewhere across the country could be due to the UK variant of COVID-19 since it is more transmissible, which could lead not just to more infections but to more hospitalizations.

“We are a safe haven as well as a place of learning,” said Marie wiles, Guilderland’s superintendent of schools.

“I understand the cynicism and skepticism; it is not without cause,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said to the Baptist congregation.“The Tuskegee experiment is a terrible stain on the soul of this nation.”

With schools slated to reopen after Christmas vacation on Monday, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy urged on Saturday that they use remote-only learning. Individual school superintendents will make the decision.

“We’ll be setting up a POD next week,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy of a Point of Dispensing for COVID-19 vaccines. “Anyone over the age of 65 with underlying health issues, get identified by your personal doctor …. Get on that list to get the vaccine.”

“We’ve been getting complaints people are being hostile with them — screaming at them,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy at his New Year’s Day press conference. “They’re not there for that,” he said. “They’re there to help you.”

So far, about 18,000 residents in the eight-county Capital Region have been vaccinated, said Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen on Thursday.

“We have 6,500 residents over the age of 65 in Albany County,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy. “We need to identify these places …. so we’re there to protect everyone going forward.”

A new grant program was announced on Wednesday morning — funded for $500,000 — that will give up to $5,000 to businesses that qualify.

“We have paid out more than $59 billion in benefits to over 3.9 million unemployed New Yorkers during this crisis — nearly 28 typical years’ worth of benefits paid in 10 months — and we will continue to move heaven and earth to serve our neighbors,” said Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon.