While so far only health care workers exposed to coronavirus patients have been vaccinated, a few politicians have also received shots. Both New York Senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, have gotten the first dose of the vaccine, as have local Congressional representatives Antonio Delgado and Paul Tonko. Republican Elise Stefanik has not, and will not until later this month. Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke on the issue Jan. 3, and said he would also wait until others received the vaccine first. Click here to play or download excerpt of Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The vaccine rollout so far has been very slow, but the number of COVID-19 cases locally shows that it is needed. The Capital Region's seven-day average of positive COVID-19 cases increased to 10.1 percent on Jan. 3, more than two points higher than the statewide average, and behind only the Finger Lakes and the Mohawk Valley in New York State. Only 23 percent of hospital beds in the Capital Region are available, compared to the state's 30 percent average. There were 31 new positive tests in Greene County on Jan. 3. Columbia County had 37 new positive cases on Jan. 3. Ulster County had 84 new coronavirus cases, while Dutchess County had 196. Albany County reported 222 new COVID-19 cases Jan. 2, the first time in three days the number there was below 300. There were also two more deaths announced Jan. 3 in Albany County. Rensselaer County had 149 more COVID-19 cases Jan. 3, according to the state webtracker. Berkshire County, in Massachusetts, reported six new COVID-19 deaths on Jan. 3, and 38 more cases.