It is November, and just like last year, coronavirus cases are roaring back in time for the holidays. The Daily Freeman reported Nov. 15 that the number of active coronavirus cases in Ulster County jumped 118 percent since Nov. 4. In Dutchess County, case counts are up 62 percent since Nov. 1. Sam Raudins reports for Columbia-Greene Media that in Columbia County schools, COVID-19 cases have nearly tripled since Oct. 1. In Chatham schools there have been 29 cases since the school year began, in a district with about 950 students. “The district will communicate directly with families affected by confirmed COVID-19 cases, such as close contacts to positive cases, but we will not email the entire school following each individual case,” according to a district statement on its website. “We continue to work closely with the Columbia County Department of Health and follow their guidance each time there is a positive case reported to us.” Ichabod Crane Central Schools report 106 cases this school year as of Nov. 15. “Ichabod got hit pretty hard,” Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said after the school year began. “That’s a lot for that size school district. I think that there is still that concept out there that some people just really do spread it more quickly and more readily than others.” Greene County, meanwhile, announced 21 more cases Nov. 16. No local official in any county has taken any action, or changed any COVID-19 policy to slow the spread of the disease in many months.