“It’s trial and error,” said McCoy on reopening. He had earlier mentioned the possibility of split shifts so workers could be spaced apart in their workplaces. “We’ve never been down this road,” he said on Saturday.

The recent spike in positive cases of COVID-19 is the result of widespread testing in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, said Albany County commissioner of Health Elizabeth Whalen. Her department is now testing some asymptomatic workers in hopes of identifying employees that may be infected but unaware.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand supports the creation of a Health Force, which she described as “an AmeriCorps for health care.” She explained, “We’d train a million workers over the next two months.” These workers would do testing and contact tracing and, once a vaccine is developed, administer the vaccine.

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York is, according to its director, eager to help people who need a lawyer’s advice when facing the repercussions of the shutdown meant to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that all schools and colleges in New York will remain closed for the rest of the academic year and will continue to provide distance learning.

Here and now, in the midst of this pandemic, we have a situation where the most basic liberties — for example, to assemble — must be curtailed for the good of all.

On Tuesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced 12 steps that must be taken by regions across the state as part of an evolving phased reopening plan. One of those steps is that each region has to set up a testing regimen, prioritizing people with symptoms and people who have come into contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Urgent-care centers, said Jonathan Halpert, M.D., are “uniquely positioned” to help with COVID-9. New York State has about 800 urgent-care centers, with about 30 in Albany County, he said.

ALBANY COUNTY — In the midst of the pandemic, Albany County is particularly concerned about its “vulnerable populations,” said Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen and last weekend did an extensive investigation of “cases and contacts.”