Graphs on the county’s website show the surge this January, with the Omicron variant still making up 95 percent of the cases statewide, was about three times higher than the surge last January, but, at the same time, another graph shows hospitalizations with COVID-related cases were about three-quarters the number in January 2020. Hospitalization surges typically lag about a week behind infection surges so the county’s hospitalizations, while they may be leveling, have not yet plunged like the infection rate.

These local students have recently distinguished themselves:
 

— Jack Diligent of Delmar, majoring in computer science at Hamilton College in Clinton, was a member of the scenery shop crew for the recent Hamilton College Fall Theatre production of 10 Out of 12, by playwright Anne Washburn;

These local students were named to the fall 2021 dean's list at Clarkson University, comprised of students with a grade-point average of 3.25 or higher:
 

— Brian Tyler Chew of Schenectady, a senior majoring in environmental engineering;

These local students were named to the dean’s list or received a similar honor from their college or university for the fall 2021 semester:
 

— Mary V. Fleischut or Delmar, majoring in criminal investigation at State University of New York Canton with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher; 

These local students were named to the president’s list from Siena College for the fall 2021 semester with a grade point average of 3.9 or higher:
 

— Alexa Anastasi of Delmar;

— Nicole Anzalone of Schenectady;

— Meghan Brewer of Altamont;

— Allison Carter of Schenectady;

These local students were named to the president’s list from University of Delaware for the fall 2021 semester with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher:
 

— Madison Miller of Altamont;

— Sabrina Zayas of Delmar;

— Isabella Nezaj of Altamont;

— Leah Vener of Slingerlands;

“It’s all about the semiconductors and we are in a war,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “We are in a global war with other countries, China, Taiwan, Korea, and others who want to own the dominance of this industry. We’re not letting that happen.”

“I hope that our infection rate will continue to come down, but for now, we’re still identifying hundreds of cases of the virus every single day,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy as he announced 453 new COVID-19 cases on Friday morning.

Two more Albany county residents — a man in his sixties and a woman in her eighties — died of COVID-19 on Wednesday, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy reported on Thursday morning. This brings Albany County’s death toll from the virus to 495.

Dr. Ward Stone, Troy