ALBANIA – Government Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday hosted an extensive briefing to provide the “facts” regarding the treatment of the coronavirus in nursing homes in New York.
While the governor acknowledged the government’s role in creating a ‘gap’ by not immediately disclosing the data requested by lawmakers, the press and the general public, Cuomo apologized for the state’s handling of the information requests.
Cuomo’s administration is embroiled in controversy over the treatment of the contagious disease in nursing homes, with anger focused on a March 25 directive requiring nursing homes to accept patients from hospitals, even if they are positive for COVID-19.
Critics, including many Republican-elected officials, pointed to the directive, which was repealed in early May, as the main driver of the spread of the disease in community facilities. But government officials claim that many nursing homes have had positive cases before a COVID-positive patient was discharged from a hospital.
Cuomo responded Monday to calls to resign; his emergency powers must be suspended; and other controversies surrounding the deaths of the nursing home in New York due to COVID-19. You can read the full transcript on the New York website.
‘As far as my emergency services are concerned – firstly, emergency services have nothing to do with old age homes. I took hundreds of actions. The legislature can reverse any action I take, not even by a bill, just by passing 50 percent of the Assembly and Senate. They have never reversed a single action. ”
Times Union: This statement is true, but needs clarity. Although the legislature did not reverse any of the actions Cuomo did through his emergency powers, it did change and strengthen the executive orders issued during the pandemic – such as a moratorium on evictions during the crisis.
“The New York State Legislature also sent a letter asking for information on nursing homes. We interrupted the lawmakers’ request while finalizing the DOJ request. We told both houses, the Assembly and the Senate. “We took the DOJ’s request for information and we put it first. We gave priority to the DOJ’s request and we both said it.”
Times Union: Legislators and staff say they were aware that the administration needed more time to complete the request, but deny that they ever received an explanation that government officials were requesting the Ministry of Justice for information beyond the Legislature’s request. prioritize. The governor also later clarified his remarks, saying staff members told the staff members about the delay – no legislators were told directly about this.
‘Nationwide, 36 percent of the death toll (from COVID-19) is in nursing homes. Do you know what percentage of people are in nursing homes? 1 percent. 1 percent had 36 percent of the deaths. New York is 34 in deaths in nursing homes as a percentage of total deaths – 34 out of 50 states. ‘
Times Union: According to the COVID Tracking Project’s latest figures as of February 11, 36 percent of COVID-related deaths nationwide are in nursing homes, although the vulnerable population makes up only 1 percent of the national population. But New York ranks 26th in deaths in nursing homes as a percentage of total deaths, according to the tracker.
‘To be clear, all the deaths in the nursing homes and in the hospitals have always been fully, publicly and accurately reported. The numbers were always the numbers. People did ask for information outside of the place of death – not just true, not just how much in a nursing home. Not just how much in a hospital. They did request other categorizations than these. “
Times Union: Whether publicly available data is accurate is at the heart of legislative and public concerns. Attorney General Letitia James’ recent report and a recent analysis by the Empire Center for Public Policy found that the data did not accurately reflect all deaths in the nursing home. According to James’ report, deaths can be counted down to as much as 50 percent, while the Empire Center discovered that the numbers of nursing home deaths were released by the state Department of Health in early February, the COVID-19 death rate in nursing homes in New York pushed down the 35th. to the 13th highest in the US
During the Q & A portion of Cuomo’s briefing on Monday, the governor alleges lawmakers’ efforts to sue state officials to force answers regarding the state’s handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes.
“It’s a crime. You can not use a summons or threat of an investigation to exploit someone – it is a crime. ‘
Times Union: Legal consequences, the governor certainly did not hesitate to use similar threats to get what he wants. Most importantly, in July 2013, he set up the Moreland Commission of Inquiry into Public Corruption as a direct response to legislators’ refusal to pass broad ethical reform legislation. Cuomo acknowledged his intention in the news release announcing the creation of the commission, noting that he had said that I would not accept a watered-down approach to cleaning up Albany, and that the legislature should accept this legislative package. , or that I should appoint an inquiry commission with the task. with the achievement of the same goals to achieve reform. As further proof that he intended the commission’s investigation to be an example of legislative action, Cuomo dissolved the Moreland Commission in March 2014, just as members had to sue the treasurers of several state Senate campaign committees for possible violations of to investigate the campaign funding. His explanation: Since legislative leaders have agreed to a handful of reforms, the commission could be closed halfway during the announced life of 18 months.