ALBANY COUNTY — When the pandemic struck and Karen Maxwell was laid off from her job as a business analyst for the health department, she reinvented her clothing company to make protective masks.

Three COVID-19 deaths from early May of residents at a private nursing home were added to the county’s tally on Friday, bringing the death toll to 76.

“It’s gonna be up to the people,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy, indicating business owners and workers as well as customers are responsible for seeing that protocols are followed as business begi reopening.

The county’s executive informed businesses how to proceed in filing state-required forms to reopen and the county’s health commissioner said testing for COVID-19 as well as continuing to follow mitigation strategies will be crucial in remaining open.

ALBANY COUNTY — Former Albany County Executive Michael G. Breslin has joined AARP New York’s Executive Council. He will help shape AARP New York’s strategic priorities, build community partnerships with key decision-makers and serve as a volunteer spokesperson for AARP in New York.

Now is a time — as we’ve seen with false information coming from the White House — that public science and scientists need to be insulated from political meddling and retaliation. It is crucial in the midst of the pandemic that the public be accurately informed.

“Convoy for Heroes” to honor fallen veterans and current first responders and health-care workers

Because so many Memorial Day parades were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Hudson Mohawk Chapter of NY-Penn Military Vehicle Collectors Club has arranged for a “Convoy for Heroes” to take place on Monday, May 25.

The Capital Region plan asks all businesses and employees to sign a pledge that they understand what is being asked of them and are committed to doing their part to reopen the region for business and keep it open.

“These are very serious times and you can’t do things like you want to do,” Dion Lewis said of following protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Lewis helped launch a new county initiative — #AlbanyCountyStaySafe — to get teens to submit videos and photos of how they are staying safe.

Work sites are to be set up to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as the Capital Region begins the first phase of reopening tomorrow. Returning workers are to be tested for COVID-19.