The pandemic has laid bare many disparities in our society and focused the need for both government and individual action to solve the now-evident problems.

ALBANY COUNTY — The Capital Region on Wednesday was the first in the state to cross the half-way mark in giving a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to residents.

“We tend to socially distance as a norm,” nurse practitioner Jill Martin said of Hilltown residents. “Even our houses are situated far apart.” And many Hilltowners work independently — say, as farmers — and don’t regularly go to crowded venues like theaters or restaurants, she noted. “It gives a false sense of security that we don’t have the virus,” Martin said.

The new CDC guidance says that, except in certain crowded settings, fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks.

Governor Andrew Cuomo was in Syracuse Monday to announce the 2021 Reimagined New York State Fair will run from Aug. 20 to Sept. 6.

Instead of putting its effort into mass clinics, where sign-up has plummeted, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy said, the county is going to work with community partners to reach people where they are.

Albany County is shifting its focus to have more community-based pop-up clinics. It has also launched an Instagram challenge, #IGot Mine,” to encourage young residents to get vaccinated.

If the American Jobs Plan is passed, $400 billion would be invested in childcare. Not only would this provide jobs for those running childcare programs, it would also unleash women who are now home tending to their children. They would be free to contribute to the economy.

While Albany County hit the halfway mark — 50 percent — on Wednesday of residents having received at least one shot, there were also concerns about more deaths.

These local students were named to the dean’s list from their college or university for the Fall 2020 semester:

— Nora Abbott of Delmar at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania with a grade point average of 3.6 or higher;