ALBANY — It’s been 100 days since County Executive Dan McCoy held his first COVID-19 press conference, and despite businesses opening back up and mass protests throughout the Capital District, the numbers are looking good.
But, it can be a double edged sword if you consider many states are seeing record breaking numbers of new cases.
“The virus is still here. It has not gone away. Things are going in the right direction but it is still here,” McCoy said while imploring people to keep following the protocols of wearing masks and social distancing. “Why hasn’t it spiked here now that we are opening back up and there are protests going on? It’s because of you doing the right things.”
As of Friday, there were 1,847 positive cases in Albany County, an increase of six. There are 138 under mandatory quarantine with 1,811 who tested positive and recovered.
Six people are in the hospital for a rate of .32 percent, which is the lowest since mid-March, the beginning of the pandemic.
The eight-county Capital District — Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Greene, Columbia, Warren and Washington — began Phase III on Wednesday with restaurants having the ability to serve in-house and personal care businesses like nail and tanning salons and tattoo parlors opening their doors.
All businesses now open still have to follow the state mandated protocols like wearing masks, social distancing and sanitization.
Enforcement will fall to the localities, said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who also gave the State Liquor Authority the power to suspend liquor licenses for businesses not following the regulations.
“I know the struggle a lot of the restaurants and bars have had to come back online. To get the correct guidance. To train yourself and train workers and to train your patrons when they come in,” McCoy said. “It’s tough, but please continue to follow the guidelines put out by the state of New York. We don’t want to come in and shut you down.”
