The year 2021 did not begin any better than 2020 locally for COVID-19. Several records were broken, and none of them were good. In Ulster County reported two additional deaths from coronavirus and the state webtracker reported 119 new coronavirus cases there on Jan. 1. Dutchess County had another death from the virus on Jan. 1, and 222 new cases according to the state webtracker. Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy said schools should not reopen Jan. 4, and instead go to all-remote all-remote learning. McCoy is also recommending to leaders of colleges and the university in the county to keep students off campus until the end of February. “We need everyone to pause,” he said. The Catskill school district is partially taking that advice, extending all-remote learning there until at least Jan. 11.