ALBANY COUNTY — The current observance of Passover and the upcoming Easter celebration have raised officials’ concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19.

On Sunday morning, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy announced 83 new cases of the virus since Saturday, and two new hospitalizations.

“Again today,” McCoy said in a statement, “we are reporting another large number of new positive cases.”

The county’s infection rate, as of Saturday, as a seven-day rolling average, was 2.3 percent, according to the state’s dashboard. Statewide, the average was 3.5 percent.

“This is a cause for concern as families are observing Passover which started last night and with Easter coming up next Sunday,” said McCoy. “I wish happy holidays to everyone but I also urge everyone to engage in social distancing, mask wearing, good hand hygiene and coughing and sneezing into your arm to contain the spread of COVID-19.”

Albany County, like the rest of the state and nation, has seen an increase in infections following holiday gatherings — Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and most notably the spike that started with Thanksgiving through the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

Meanwhile, vaccination continues apace.

As of Sunday night, according to the state’s vaccine tracker, 36.1 percent of Albany County’s 307,117 residents have received at least one shot. Statewide, 29.2 percent of New Yorkers have gotten at least one dose and 16.3 percent have completed a vaccine series.

“Even if you have been fully vaccinated, there remains that two-week period before full immunization kicks in,” advised McCoy. “Stay safe.”

Albany County has a pre-registration tool on its website. Eligible residents will be notified of vaccination openings as they become available. Currently any New Yorker age 50 or older is eligible as are those with listed comorbidities and listed essential jobs.

Newest numbers

As of Sunday morning, Albany County has had 22,149 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including the 83 new cases, according to McCoy’s release.

Of the new cases, 44 did not have clear sources of infection identified, 33 had close contact with someone infected with the disease, five reported traveling out of state, and one was a health-care worker or resident of a congregate setting.

The five-day average for new daily positives has increased to 73.4 from 66.4. There are now 555 active cases in the county, up from 547 on Saturday.

The number of Albany County residents under quarantine increased to 1,400 from 1,345. So far, 70,355 residents have completed quarantine. Of those, 21,594 had tested positive and recovered. That is an increase of 73 recoveries since Saturday.

There were two new hospitalizations overnight, and there are now 28 county residents hospitalized from the virus. There is currently one patient in an intensive-care unit, down from two on Sunday.

Albany County’s COVID-19 death toll remains at 366.

While the Capital Region appears to be out of the danger zone when it comes to bed capacity, it is tied for the worst rate of available hospital beds and continues to have the worst rate of available ICU beds, according to a Sunday release from the governor’s office.

Currently, 107 Capital Region residents are hospitalized with COVID-19, which is 0.01 percent of the region’s population and leaves 31 percent of its hospital beds available. New York City has 0.03 perent of its population hospitalized, also leaving 31 percent of its beds available.

Statewide, 0.2 percent of New Yorkers are hospitalized with COVID-19, leaving 35 percent of the state’s hospital beds available.

Currently, 201 of the CapitalRegion’s 238 ICU beds are filled, leaving 18 percent available.

Statewide, 29 percent of New York’s ICU beds are available.