New York officials are reviewing whether nursing homes that took in coronavirus afflicted patients could properly care for them, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday in a radio interview. 

The investigation was previously announced weeks ago by Cuomo, with the Department of Health and Attorney General Letitia James leading the effort. 

 

What You Need To Know


  • Cuomo says nursing homes are being investigated over whether they could care for COVID residents.

  • Nearly 6,000 people have died in nursing homes associated with coronavirus

  • Cuomo's handling of the issue has come under scrutiny.

 

 

But the scope of the investigation was not known until Thursday, as Cuomo is facing scrutiny for his handling of nursing homes. Nearly 6,000 people have died either due to COVID-19 or are suspected of dying because of the virus. 

Speaking with WAMC public radio, Cuomo noted most nursing homes in New York are for-profit entities that receive more money for each resident. 

A March 25 directive requied nursing homes to take in COVID-positive patients, an order was altered weeks later to bar hospitals from discharging coronavirus patients into nursing homes. 

Cuomo has pointed to a guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control that said nursing homes could not disrimiante against accepting COVID patients. 

"Nobody said you must take COVID patients, that's just not true," Cuomo said in the interview on WAMC radio in Albany. "Our guidance said you cannot discriminate on the basis of COVID."

A Siena College poll released this week found a plurality of voters, 48 percent, had a negative view of the governor's handling of nursing homes.