7-11-21 Forty-two states saw an increase in COVID-19 cases last week from the week before. Daily U.S. cases per day are up to 18,000 from a low of 10,000 a month ago

7-15-21 More than five inches of rain fell on the Albany area in the last two weeks (3" more than normal), dampening plans, canceling concerts, and in some areas, causing widespread damage. The July record was 9.91 inches in 2009, and second place was 7.54 inches in 2005.

7-20-21 From Dr. Gloria Guptill: "Bad news….we are going backwards. 3 weeks ago, the Capital Region had zero new cases in 24 hours. Yesterday, we had 33 new cases. Compared to 5 months ago when the Capital Region had over 900 cases a day, 33 may not seem like much but as we all know covid-19 and especially the dominant delta variant spreads like wildfire in the unvaccinated. The Capital Region currently has the highest positivity rate in NYS. The Delta variant now accounts for more than half of the cases in the country. About 99% of hospitalizations are those who haven’t been vaccinated. With kids under 12 unable to be vaccinated, I support the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that kids over age 2 should be in masks at schools."

7-20-21 Erie Canal Lock E-2 in Waterford to Lock E-19 in Frankfort are closed due to continued high river flows and heavy rainfall. It is at the high water mark.

7-21-21 97% of current COVID-19 hospitalizations are unvaccinated people

7-23-21. One recent preliminary report from Israel indicates that efore the delta variant became widespread, from January to April 2021, Israel reported that the Pfizer vaccine was 97% effective in preventing symptomatic disease. However, since June 6, with the delta variant circulating more widely, the Pfizer vaccine has been 64% effective in preventing symptomatic disease, according to preliminary data reported by Israel’s Ministry of Health in early July.

7-26-21 New York State allocatesf $15 Million to Promote Vaccination in Communities Disproportionately Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic

7-27-21 The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask guidance to recommend that fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors when in areas with "substantial" and "high" transmission of Covid-19, which includes nearly two-thirds of all US counties.

7-27-21 The delta variant accounts for 83% of all cases recently sequenced in the U.S. The unvaccinated account for the vast majority of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. However, the delta variant has made it possible that people who have breakthrough infections after being vaccinated can transmit the virus to others. Data shows vaccinated people can have as much viral load as unvaccinated people according to the CDC.

7-28-21 Nearly 3% of medical workers in a new Israeli study contracted COVID-19 even though they were vaccinated, and 19% of them still had symptoms six weeks later. The findings raise questions about their protection and suggest that even vaccinated people could experience long-term symptoms such as such as fatigue, brain fog and shortness of breath. Most had the alpha variant of the virus.

7-30-21 A CDC study tracked 469 COVID-19 cases of people who visited Provincetown over July 4. It found that 74% of those infected with COVID-19 were fully vaccinated. An overwhelming majority of the cases were caused by the Delta variant, the study reported. Only four of those who were vaccinated were hospitalized and none died. The study did not talk about the numbers of people who would have been infected if they were not vaccinated.

7-30-21 Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties were all averaging between 50 and 99 new cases of the virus per 100,000 residents as of Friday, CDC data showed. That rate is considered "substantial" by the agency, which issued new guidance Tuesday recommending both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals wear masks indoors when in areas deemed to have "substantial" or "high" levels of community transmission

7-30-21 Another mutation of COVID-19, thought to have originated in Columbia, is starting to spread among patients in Florida. Health care officials in Miami say the new variant—which is currently called B.1.621—now makes up about 10% of the cases there. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently monitoring 10 additional virus mutations beyond B.1.621.

7-30-21 House oversight committee released notes of a 27 December telephone call from Trump to then acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen, in which Trump told Rosen: “Just say the election was corrupt + leave the rest to me and the R congressmen.” This could should trigger section 3 of the 14th amendment, which bars anyone from holding office who “engaged in insurrection” against the US.

7-30-21 The U.S. FDA expanded the emergency use authorization of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc's (REGN.O) COVID-19 antibody cocktail, enabling its use as a preventive treatment for the illness in certain high risk people.