On January 4, Hunter-Tannersville schools announced that so many staff had called in sick with COVID-19, that school was going virtual all week. On Jan. 6 Catskill schools made similar announcement, staying closed through the MLK holiday next week. In Dutchess County, the Dover school district, the Millbrook district, Pawling Elementary School, and the Arlington district all were closed at least some of the past week because of staff shortages from coronavirus. Nick Reisman at New York State of Politics reports that on Jan. 6 the association that represents state supreme court justices in New York said it wants court proceedings to go virtual again because of the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases this month. Queens State Supreme Court Justice Carmen Velasquez, the president of the Association of Supreme Court Justices, said, "I am fully vaccinated and am quarantining at home with symptoms. I am extremely concerned about the health of our justices and court employees, and the health of all those who come into our courthouses," she said. "That must be our paramount consideration." Most local counties are now reporting a record number of new COVID-19 cases, with rising hospitalizations and deaths. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.