Jump to content

New York COVID-19 nursing home scandal: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit
→Reactions: "de Blasio" not "Deblasio"
Line 24: Line 24:
Aside from George Pataki numerous New York State legislators have criticized Andrew Cuomo's response.
Aside from George Pataki numerous New York State legislators have criticized Andrew Cuomo's response.
*'''[[Elise Stefanik]]''': The congresswoman called for an investigation and stated "New York has mismanaged how we approached and how we protected seniors in our nursing homes. We knew going into this that our most vulnerable are our seniors."<ref>{{cite web | title = Stefanik calling for investigation into Cuomo's handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes| publisher = cbs6albany.com | date = May 19, 2020 | url = https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/stefanik-calling-for-investigation-into-cuomos-handling-of-covid-19-in-nursing-homes | access-date = May 19, 2020}}</ref>
*'''[[Elise Stefanik]]''': The congresswoman called for an investigation and stated "New York has mismanaged how we approached and how we protected seniors in our nursing homes. We knew going into this that our most vulnerable are our seniors."<ref>{{cite web | title = Stefanik calling for investigation into Cuomo's handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes| publisher = cbs6albany.com | date = May 19, 2020 | url = https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/stefanik-calling-for-investigation-into-cuomos-handling-of-covid-19-in-nursing-homes | access-date = May 19, 2020}}</ref>
*'''[[Bill Deblasio]]''': The mayor of New York City stated “We've gotta know more. We now need a full accounting of what happened. Think about seniors ... their lives were in the balance and their families just desperate to get them the help they needed. We need to know exactly what happened here. We need to make sure nothing like this ever happens again."<ref>{{cite web | title = De Blasio calls for 'full accounting' after Cuomo accused of covering up nursing home death toll| publisher = politico.com | date = February 12, 2021 | url =https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2021/02/12/de-blasio-calls-for-full-accounting-after-cuomo-accused-of-covering-up-nursing-home-death-toll-1363130 | access-date = February 12, 2021}}</ref>
*'''[[Bill de Blasio]]''': The mayor of New York City stated “We've gotta know more. We now need a full accounting of what happened. Think about seniors ... their lives were in the balance and their families just desperate to get them the help they needed. We need to know exactly what happened here. We need to make sure nothing like this ever happens again."<ref>{{cite web | title = De Blasio calls for 'full accounting' after Cuomo accused of covering up nursing home death toll| publisher = politico.com | date = February 12, 2021 | url =https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2021/02/12/de-blasio-calls-for-full-accounting-after-cuomo-accused-of-covering-up-nursing-home-death-toll-1363130 | access-date = February 12, 2021}}</ref>
*'''[[Ron Kim (politician)|Ron Kim]]''': Assemblyman Ron Kim told the New York Post that he believes Cuomo committed “obstruction of criminal investigations of health care offenses." According to Ron Kim, Andrew Cuomo threatened to "destroy" him on while the two were talking on the phone.<ref>{{cite web | title =Cuomo said 'he can destroy me': NY assemblyman alleges governor threatened him over nursing homes scandal| publisher = cnn.com | date = February 17, 2021 | url =https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html | access-date = February 17, 2021}}</ref>
*'''[[Ron Kim (politician)|Ron Kim]]''': Assemblyman Ron Kim told the New York Post that he believes Cuomo committed “obstruction of criminal investigations of health care offenses." According to Ron Kim, Andrew Cuomo threatened to "destroy" him on while the two were talking on the phone.<ref>{{cite web | title =Cuomo said 'he can destroy me': NY assemblyman alleges governor threatened him over nursing homes scandal| publisher = cnn.com | date = February 17, 2021 | url =https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html | access-date = February 17, 2021}}</ref>
*'''[[Jessica Ramos]]''': Assemblywoman responded "Trash. No one believes you. At no point did the Administration notify the legislature about a DOJ investigation. People died and Cuomo lied then he had the gall to write a book."<ref>{{cite web | title =CFellow Democrats blast Cuomo's explanation for nursing home data delay| publisher = foxnews.com | date = February 17, 2021 | url =https://www.foxnews.com/us/fellow-democrats-blast-ny-gov-cuomos-explanation-for-nursing-home-data-delay | access-date = February 17, 2021}}</ref>
*'''[[Jessica Ramos]]''': Assemblywoman responded "Trash. No one believes you. At no point did the Administration notify the legislature about a DOJ investigation. People died and Cuomo lied then he had the gall to write a book."<ref>{{cite web | title =CFellow Democrats blast Cuomo's explanation for nursing home data delay| publisher = foxnews.com | date = February 17, 2021 | url =https://www.foxnews.com/us/fellow-democrats-blast-ny-gov-cuomos-explanation-for-nursing-home-data-delay | access-date = February 17, 2021}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:27, 18 February 2021

On March 25, 2020, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an order that all New York State nursing homes must accept residents that medically stable. The order further stated that "No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the NH [nursing home] solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19".[1] Since the order was issued there has been bipartisan criticism of his order and the subsequent tracking of the nursing home deaths.

Background

On March 7, Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency in New York after 89 cases had been confirmed in the state, 70 of them in Westchester County, 12 in New York City and 7 elsewhere.[2]. New York State then quickly became the epicenter for the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States. On April 9, 2020 Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill Health Center asked New York State health officials permission to transfer a resident to the nearly empty emergency hospital at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. That request was denied.[3]By the beginning of May 2020, former New York State governor George Pataki [4] became the first prominent voice criticizing Andrew Cuomo's nursing home response. On May 10, 2020 Andrew Cuomo rescinded the March 25, 2020 order. Andrew Cuomo repeatedly stated that the March 25, 2020 nursing home order was based on the Trump Administration's CDC guidance. Politifact rated that statement mostly false.[5] May 21, 2020 the Associated Press reported that over 4,500 patients that were recovering from Covid-19 were sent to New York State nursing homes. The Associated Press conducted survey after New York’s Health Department did not release its own survey conduct two weeks earlier.[6]

New York State Department of Health’s Report

On July 6, 2020, the New York State Department of Health released a report stating that most deaths in nursing homes were from asymptomatic spread by staff and visitors.[7] Following the report's release Andrew Cuomo held a press conference in which he stated criticism of nursing homes deaths "That has no basis in fact. It was pure politics and it was ugly politics. And now the report has the facts, and the facts tell the exact opposite story."[8]

July 24, 2020 Press Conference

At a July 24, 2020 press conference, Andrew Cuomo dismissed a reporter's question about appointing an independent investigator to the covid-19 deaths in nursing homes. Andrew Cuomo stated "Yeah. I don’t believe your characterization is correct. I believe it is a political issue. I think it’s the New York Post. I believe it is a political issue. I think it’s the New York Post. I think it’s Michael Goodwin. I think it’s Bob McManus. I think it’s FOX TV. I think it is all politically motivated. If anybody looked at the facts, they would know that it was wholly absurd on its face. People died in nursing homes. That’s very unfortunate. Just on the top line, we are number 35th in the nation in percentage of deaths in nursing homes. Go talk to 34 other states first. Go talk to the Republican states now. Florida, Texas, Arizona. Ask them what is happening in nursing homes. It’s all politics."[9]

New York Attorney General's Report

On January 28, 2021 the New York State Attorney General Leticia James issued a report that the New York State Department of Health undercounted the total deaths in nursing homes from Covid-19 by about 50%. Attorney General Leticia James stated "Preliminary data obtained by OAG suggests that many nursing home residents died from COVID-19 in hospitals after being transferred from their nursing homes, which is not reflected in DOH's published total nursing home death data."[10][11]

Melissa Derosa comment

New York Post released audio comment by Andrew Cuomo official Melissa Derosa in which she apologized to New York Democrats. Derosa stated that they intentionally withheld nursing home death information from state legislators out of concern that the Trump administration would use the information against the Cuomo administration. Melissa Derosa stated "Basically, we froze because then we were in a position where we weren’t sure if what we were going to give to the Department of Justice or what we give to you guys and what we start saying was going to be used against us, and we weren’t sure if there was going to be an investigation".[12][13] Derosa also referred to the head of the Department of Justice's Civil Division Jeffrey Clark as political hack that pursued the information for Donald Trump.

Reactions

Aside from George Pataki numerous New York State legislators have criticized Andrew Cuomo's response.

  • Elise Stefanik: The congresswoman called for an investigation and stated "New York has mismanaged how we approached and how we protected seniors in our nursing homes. We knew going into this that our most vulnerable are our seniors."[14]
  • Bill de Blasio: The mayor of New York City stated “We've gotta know more. We now need a full accounting of what happened. Think about seniors ... their lives were in the balance and their families just desperate to get them the help they needed. We need to know exactly what happened here. We need to make sure nothing like this ever happens again."[15]
  • Ron Kim: Assemblyman Ron Kim told the New York Post that he believes Cuomo committed “obstruction of criminal investigations of health care offenses." According to Ron Kim, Andrew Cuomo threatened to "destroy" him on while the two were talking on the phone.[16]
  • Jessica Ramos: Assemblywoman responded "Trash. No one believes you. At no point did the Administration notify the legislature about a DOJ investigation. People died and Cuomo lied then he had the gall to write a book."[17]
  • Andrew Gounardes State Senator Andrew Gounardes stated @agounardes (February 12, 2021). "This is a betrayal of the public trust. There needs to be full accountability for what happened, and the legislature needs to reconsider its broad grant of emergency powers to the governor" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  • Michael Gianaris The Deputy Senate Majority Leader for the New York State Senate stated on Twitter regarding Andrew Cuomo @SenGianaris (February 17, 2021). "This behavior is unhinged. Seems like someone has a problem with legislators performing their oversight duties" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

US Attorney and FBI Investigation

On February 17, 2021 Times Union reported that the US Attorney of the Eastern District of New York along with the FBI had recently began in investigation into New York State's handling of nursing home deaths.[18][19]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20200407103413/https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/03/doh_covid19-_nhadmissionsreadmissions_-032520.pdf
  2. ^ "Coronavirus in N.Y.: Cuomo Declares State of Emergency". The New York Times. March 3, 2020. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "NY's Cuomo criticized over highest nursing home death toll". AP.com. May 9, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  4. ^ "Cuomo's nursing home policies amid coronavirus 'a disaster,' says ex-Gov. Pataki". New York Post. May 1, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  5. ^ "Andrew Cuomo stated on May 20, 2020 in a news conference: "Why did the state do that with COVID patients in nursing homes? It's because the state followed President Trump's CDC guidance."". Politifact. June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  6. ^ {{cite web | title = AP count: Over 4,500 virus patients sent to NY nursing homes | publisher = AP.com | date = May 21, 2020 | url = https://apnews.com/article/5ebc0ad45b73a899efa81f098330204c%7C access-date = May 21, 2020]}
  7. ^ https://www.health.ny.gov/press/releases/2020/2020-07-06_covid19_nursing_home_report.htm
  8. ^ "New York DOH report says state blameless for nursing home deaths". www.rev.com. July 6, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  9. ^ "Stefanik calling for investigation into Cuomo's handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes". www.rev.com. July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  10. ^ https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2021/attorney-general-james-releases-report-nursing-homes-response-covid-19
  11. ^ "N.Y. Severely Undercounted Virus Deaths in Nursing Homes, Report Says". www.nytimes.com. January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  12. ^ "Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa admits they hid nursing home data so feds wouldn't find out". newyorkpost.com. February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  13. ^ "Cuomo administration 'froze' over nursing home data requests". www.pbs.org. February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  14. ^ "Stefanik calling for investigation into Cuomo's handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes". cbs6albany.com. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  15. ^ "De Blasio calls for 'full accounting' after Cuomo accused of covering up nursing home death toll". politico.com. February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  16. ^ "Cuomo said 'he can destroy me': NY assemblyman alleges governor threatened him over nursing homes scandal". cnn.com. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  17. ^ "CFellow Democrats blast Cuomo's explanation for nursing home data delay". foxnews.com. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  18. ^ "FBI, U.S. attorney in Brooklyn probing Cuomo administration on nursing homes". www.timesunion.com. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  19. ^ "Report: New York Gov. Cuomo under investigation over nursing home deaths". www.axios.com. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_York_COVID-19_nursing_home_scandal&oldid=1007518699"