Gov. Facing Criticism over Nursing home death
NEW YORK – May 11, 2020 – According to an online news report published on fox28media.com, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing an increasing amount of negative press coverage due to the tragic numbers of nursing home seniors who have died due to the coronavirus. Governor Cuomo has been praised for helping slow the coronavirus spread and for his success in quickly obtaining much-needed hospital supplies.
Governor Cuomo told reports that his administration has tried everything to keep the coronavirus out of nursing homes, but that it is “virtually impossible.” He also stated that it is not a good time to put a loved one into a nursing home.
Relatives of the nursing home residents, lawmakers from both parties, and health care watchdogs are referring to a lack of testing and transparency that have prevented officials and the public from understanding the extent of the catastrophe. Now those concerned with the nursing home coronavirus epidemic are concerned about a new state directive requiring nursing homes to accept new residents who have COVID-19. This raising particular concern because nursing homes are considered “prime breeding grounds” for all sorts of infectious diseases.
Elaine Mazzotta, a nurse who lost her mother due to a suspected COVID-19 infection at a Long Island nursing home, told reporters that the manner in which the nursing homes have been managed by the state during the crisis has been “irresponsible, negligent and stupid.” She also stated that these state agencies knew better and that they “should not have sent these people into nursing homes.”
Over 25,000 coronavirus fatalities have occurred at nursing homes, senior care centers, and long-term care facilities in the United States. New York state accounts for 5,200 or one-fifth of the nation’s total nursing home coronavirus fatalities. The Associated Press figures the numbers of nursing home resident deaths to range from 20 to 25 deaths per day, and the number of fatalities continue to rise.
