Thread by @JaniceDean

This is a fair article from @nytimes diving into the nursing home scandal.

A couple of points to highlight if I may...
nytimes.com/2020/07/08/nyr…

1) NY ranks 2nd, closely behind NJ, among states with the highest # of known deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The vast majority of those deaths (more than 6,200 people died after being confirmed or suspected of having the virus) happened in nursing homes.

2) BUT: New York’s numbers DO NOT tell the whole story: The state Health Department ONLY counts residents who physically died within a nursing home, and omits those who contracted the virus and went on to die in a hospital or other facility. (NOT ACCURATE!)

3) About 21 percent of all coronavirus deaths in New York occurred in a nursing home or long-term care facility, BECAUSE A STAGGERING NUMBER OF PPL HAVE DIED IN NEW YORK (31,000+ DEATHS) outpacing NJ where
15,229 people have died.

4) Cuomo's order on March 25 said that nursing homes must readmit residents sent to hospitals with the coronavirus. The homes were also barred from testing NEW or returning residents for COVID, which might have indicated whether residents were infectious.

5) That order was in place for 46 days until he finally reversed the order May 10th. Most home administrators felt they had no choice but to accept them; denying patients could lead to a loss in revenue and invite regulatory scrutiny. AND

6) NY's rule alarmed nursing home workers and residents’ families, who worried it would spark outbreaks among an already high-risk population.

7) AND THEN in early April (before reversing his decision about Covid patients into nursing homes) Cuomo signed legislation that shielded nursing homes from most lawsuits over their handling of the coronavirus — a measure pushed for by industry representatives. WHY? hmmm...

8) Dr. Howard A. Zucker, the state’s health commissioner, said nursing homes were not at fault for the deaths. “If you’re going to place blame, I would blame the coronavirus, Covid-19,” (UMMMMMM. NO. Not good enough Dr Zucker.)

9) And then Cuomo's investigation into himself states over 6,000 covid positive patients were released into nursing homes. He blames healthcare workers, visitors, CDC, the President, God, Fox News, the weather and @nypost but not the guy who signed the order: himself.

10) Michael Caputo, asst. secretary for public affairs: “Governor Cuomo’s handpicked investigators are bending the truth to try to absolve him, but the fact remains that no one is to blame for the Covid-19 deaths in New York nursing homes but him. cont..

11) “Cuomo did not follow sound, science-based federal guidance and he made a grave mistake.”

I agree with Mr. Caputo's assessment, and look forward to many investigations into the worst governor in New York States history: @NYGovCuomo The End.