ALBANY — Two women in their 70s with underlying health conditions died Saturday to Sunday bringing the total number of fatalities to 115.
Also Sunday, said County Executive Dan McCoy during his daily briefing, 20- to 29-year-olds became the demographic with the highest number of positive cases, 308, surpassing 50- to 59-year olds, 301.
“You don’t have signs and symptoms, I get it,” McCoy said. “And to the families who say I am just trying to scare your kids. I know they are not showing signs and symptoms but they are spreading it to other people.”
As of Sunday, there were 1,792 positive cases in Albany County, up 14 from Friday. There are 606 under mandatory quarantine and 12 in the hospital for a rate of .66.
Of the 115 Albany County fatalities, all but two were older than 60 and all but two had underlying health issues.
The numbers are encouraging and the eight-county Capital District entered Phase II of the state’s reopening plan on Wednesday, June 3.
“We are in Phase II, and if you drive around sometimes you don’t realize things have changed, but the virus is there. I know sometimes it doesn’t feel like it is, but it is,” McCoy said, while warning people to still take precautions like social distancing, wearing masks and hand hygiene.
He did address the mass-gathering Black Lives Matter protests that have taken place across the country, including the Capital District, with the blessing of many local elected officials. And compared that to the limited graduation ceremonies as mandated by the state.
“I know it is hard when you tell people you can’t have graduation when they are out protesting. I can’t control that,” he said. “I get this all the time: ‘Why can’t my kid walk across the stage when they can get out and protest.’ I will look right at the camera and say ‘I don’t have an answer for that.’”
Earlier this week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said graduation ceremonies could take place either at a drive-in theater, a drive thru format. On Sunday, he said they would take place outside with crowds of less than 150 beginning June 26.
