All people, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks in Albany city buildings under an announcement made Thursday.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan cited an increase in community spread of the delta variant. Albany County on Thursday reported 37 new COVID-19 cases, and a 4.3% seven-day average positive rate.

"Accordingly, we will require everyone to be masked while in all city buildings, regardless of vaccination status. We want to keep our employees, their families and our community safe, and we hope this action will encourage others to implement indoor mask mandates until our risk level falls below current levels,” Sheehan said in a statement. 

She encouraged employees and residents to get vaccinated.