The local headlines, and the dark red on the web tracker maps, show that COVID-19 cases are again on the rise in the Hudson Valley. The Times Union reports "COVID-19 cases climb in Albany County ahead of holiday celebrations" and the Daily Freeman said, "Increase in active coronavirus cases continues in Ulster, Dutchess counties." Albany County reported 83 new positive cases of COVID-19 March 28, with its five-day average for new daily positives up from 66.4 to 73.4. "Again today, we are reporting another large number of new positive cases and our 7-day rolling average has now gone up to 2.1 percent as of yesterday according to the state dashboard," Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said in a statement. "This is a cause for concern as families are observing Passover which started last night and with Easter coming up next Sunday." To the south, Ulster County on March 28 reported 1,925 active cases of COVID-19, up 61 from the 1,863 reported on Friday, March 26. On March 1, Ulster County reached a recent low of 1,488 cases, but has been headed back up ever since. Dutchess County was up too on COVID-19 cases March 28, but only by 15 cases. Dutchess County numbers fell to 713 on Feb. 15, but are now back up to 1,436. Ulster County reports five documented cases of the so-called UK variant and one of the New York variant of COVID-19 so far.