Created: January 28, 2021 01:12 PM
ALBANY, N.Y. (WHEC) At least two New York Republican lawmakers have called on state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker to resign, amid a newly-released report from state Attorney General Letitia James which shows nursing home deaths may have been undercounted by 50%.
State Senators Robert Ortt (NY-62) and Pam Helming (NY-54) each released statements Thursday.
Lawmakers had questioned the state s prior handling of its nursing home rules, as it initially allowed nursing home residents with COVID-19 to go from the hospital back to their nursing home. Zucker said the state was following CDC guidelines, they were attempting not to discriminate against people positive with COVID-19 and said state law says nursing home shall accept and retain only those nursing home residents for whom it can provide adequate care.
New York Undercounted Nursing Home Deaths, AG Report Finds UPDATED 12:43 PM ET Jan. 28, 2021 PUBLISHED 10:16 AM ET Jan. 28, 2021 PUBLISHED 10:16 AM EST Jan. 28, 2021
SHARE
Deaths in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic may have been undercounted by as much as 50%, according to a report released on Thursday by Attorney General Letitia James s office.
“As the pandemic and our investigations continue, it is imperative that we understand why the residents of nursing homes in New York unnecessarily suffered at such an alarming rate,” James said.
“While we cannot bring back the individuals we lost to this crisis, this report seeks to offer transparency that the public deserves and to spur increased action to protect our most vulnerable residents. Nursing homes residents and workers deserve to live and work in safe environments, and I will continue to work hard to safeguard this basic ri
Richard Drew / AP
New York may be undercounting the number of COVID-19 deaths linked to nursing homes by as much as 50%, state Attorney General Letitia James said Thursday, meaning the state’s current count of about 9,000 fatalities at those facilities may be far from the actual number.
The report also found that lack of compliance by nursing homes on infection control protocols, and a lack of staff per patient, may have contributed to higher fatality rates.
“While we cannot bring back the individuals we lost to this crisis, this report seeks to offer transparency that the public deserves and to spur increased action to protect our most vulnerable residents,” James said.
After Scathing AG Report, State Senate GOP Leader Calls for DOH Commissioner s Resignation PUBLISHED 12:44 PM ET Jan. 28, 2021 PUBLISHED 12:44 PM EST Jan. 28, 2021
SHARE
The top Republican in the New York State Senate, Senator Rob Ortt, is calling for the resignation of New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker, after the state attorney general found that his office underreported nursing home COVID-19 deaths.
“The report released today by the Attorney General is confirmation for the thousands of families who lost loved ones to COVID-19 in New York nursing homes, read a statement from Ortt. For months, Governor Cuomo and his administration have refused to be transparent or take any responsibility for actions they have taken during this public health crisis including the deadly March 25, 2020 order to send COVID-positive patients into nursing homes.
Jan 28, 2021
New York may be undercounting the number of COVID-19 deaths linked to nursing homes by as much as 50%, state Attorney General Letitia James said Thursday, meaning the state’s current count of about 9,000 fatalities at those facilities may be far from the actual number.
NY Attorney General Letitia James. File Photo: New York NOW
The report also found that lack of compliance by nursing homes on infection control protocols, and a lack of staff per patient, may have contributed to higher fatality rates.
“While we cannot bring back the individuals we lost to this crisis, this report seeks to offer transparency that the public deserves and to spur increased action to protect our most vulnerable residents,” James said.