COVID-19 cases are increasing in parts of the Hudson Valley, despite vaccination rates approaching or exceeding 40 percent of the adult population in most local counties. While there is little data, it seems more contagious variants and people not wearing masks are causing local cases to rise, despite the growing vaccination numbers. Albany County Executive Dan McCoy leads one county where the number of coronavirus cases are rising, and worries the Passover and Easter holidays may make things worse. "I have said we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Please don’t turn a holiday gathering into a virus spreading event," he said in a statement April 4. "I encourage people to use common sense and to continue following the practices to stop the spread of the virus – wear a mask, socially distance, cough and sneeze into your arm, wash your hands frequently and do not gather with large groups of people you don’t live with." There were 61 new positive cases in Albany County announced April 4, and the five-day average for new daily positives there has grown from 64.6 to 66.2, according to the Times Union. Ulster County reported 84 new cases April 3, and a positivity rate of 4.7 percent. On April 2, Greene County announced ten more COVID-19 cases, and a 4.1 percent positivity rate. Columbia County announced 14 more cases April 2. In Dutchess County, there were two consecutive days of case counts falling, but the positivity rate remained high, at 4.29 percent. Vaccination rates continued to climb locally, with Albany County topping 40 percent of all adults getting at least one shot as of April 4, with 40.2 percent total. Ulster County followed with 38.3 percent, then Columbia County at 36.7 percent vaccinated, Rensselaer County at 35.1 percent, Dutchess County at 34.4 percent, and Greene County at 33.1 percent. Schoharie and Delaware counties have not reached 30 percent yet, and have 29.2 percent, and 27.9 percent vaccinated, according to the state's tracker website as of April 4.