Open those doors

25 percent occupancy, other limits part of plan

Gov. Cuomo says that 25 percent occupancy in places of worship can start Sunday.

Since New York state’s metrics are better than anticipated, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Saturday that 25 percent occupancy in places of worship will be allowed starting Sunday using social distancing.

That will apply in the seven regions that have already entered phase two of the reopening during the coronavirus pandemic — the Capital Region, Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, the Southern

Tier and Western New York.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany said its parishes have been working on plans to ensure they can meet safety standards that will keep the six-foot social distancing requirement in place throughout Mass.

The news comes after the state experienced the lowest hospitalization and death rate since the crisis began. On Friday, the total number of deaths was 35, Cuomo said from Albany. The number of total hospitalizations was down Friday to 2,603 from a recordhigh of 18,825 during the peak of the pandemic.

“No state in the United States has gone from where we were to where we are,” Cuomo said.

Although the numbers are encouraging, things aren’t going to return to back to how they were before the pandemic. Cuomo will sign an executive order allowing commercial buildings to conduct temperature checks for anyone entering the building as office workers begin to return to the workplace.

Despite the statewide good news, Saratoga County reported one more COVID-19 related death— a 62-yearold male from Saratoga Springs. This brings the county’s total to 17 deaths. And — rarely during the pandemic — Albany County Executive Daniel Mccoy did not conduct a briefing Saturday. According to a statement, “all has remained stable.”

Schenectady County reported four new positive cases and four people are hospitalized.

One new case was confirmed to the Rensselaer County Health Department. It was announced on Saturday afternoon, a 40-year-old

Troy woman, bringing the total number to 538.

Becca.carballo@timesunion. com 518-454-5092