The Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region has started a grant program for small businesses hurt by the pandemic. The county executive says he is confident the Capital Region can “in a timely manner” meet the seven steps required by the governor to reopen businesses. 

On Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo outlined additional guidelines for when regions can re-open. The state will monitor these four core factors to determine if a region can re-open:

In some countries, such as Sweden, the thinking is, “If we know this is a disease that disproportionately affects older individuals, why don’t we just tell our older individuals to stay home?” The younger people, then, can continue going to work, said Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen. “The problem is … there will be deaths,” said Whalen. “The question is: How comfortable is a society with that?”

On Sunday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York has formed a consortium with six other states — New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts —  to develop a regional supply chain for personal protective equipment, other medical equipment, and testing.

About two months ago, United Way established the Capital Region Community COVID-19 Response Fund and has so far raised over $800,000 with $650,000 already being given back to the community.

A team of 30 specially trained Red Cross Disaster Mental Health, Disaster Spiritual Care, and Health Services volunteers will be available to support families with their emotional and spiritual needs, as well as provide information and referrals to state and local agencies as well as other community organizations to help families meet their immediate needs.

“The way I like to think about it,” said Declan Duffy of missing the last half of his senior year at Albany Academy, “it’s taking the place of our final. It’s the hardest test we’ve had to go through in our lives but the easiest preparation. All we need to do is stay inside and keep each other safe.”

“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.

School board elections and budget votes, which are usually held the third Tuesday in May, will be held this year on June 9, according to an executive order issued today by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

The votes will be conducted by mail and all qualified voters will be sent an absentee ballot with return postage paid.

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.