The COVID-19 case counts continue to grow larger locally. Albany County announced two new records Dec. 2, with 167 new coronavirus cases and 84 residents hospitalized. Rensselaer County reported on Dec. 2 51 new COVID-19 cases including four RPI faculty. Columbia County announced 22 new COVID-19 cases, while Greene County did not post any update with any information on Dec. 2. The number of active positive cases in Ulster County rose 127 percent in the last two weeks. The good news was that Gov. Andrew Cuomo promises the first vaccines in New York Dec. 15. Cuomo says New York is receiving 170,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to start inoculating health care workers. By the end of the month, New York expects to receive additional doses of the Moderna vaccine, which can be stored in an ordinary freezer, as well as more of Pfizer’s. The elderly will be next in line for the vaccine, and it is likely that it won't be until the spring before the rest of the public receives the vaccine.