Steve Hughes reports in the Times Union that Albany County announced 471 new coronavirus cases Dec. 29, the largest single-day count since the pandemic began. And eight more residents were hospitalized because of coronavirus, and one more died. A woman in her 60s became the 470th death in Albany County. Currently 58 residents are hospitalized there, with seven are in intensive care. The last time Albany County had this many new cases was Jan. 12, when they recorded 351 cases. That was a time when only the elderly and health-care workers were eligible for vaccinations. “We know vaccinations and boosters are doing their jobs in preventing many serious illnesses and hospitalizations caused by the virus, and the initial evidence is showing that the omicron variant is comparatively less dangerous than delta," Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said. Read more about this story in the Times Union.