Organizations that represent nursing homes and long-term care facilities urged state health officials on Tuesday to end mandatory twice weekly testing for staff in areas that are entering phase and phase 3 of the economic reopening. 

The groups in a letter to Health Comissioner Howard Zucker wrote the policy has created "ignificant economic and practical burdens" and make it harder to provide care. 

 

What You Need To Know


  • Groups that represent nursing homes want to end twice weekly testing policies.

  • The proposal would apply for areas that are in phase 2.

  • Nursing homes say the twice weekly tests have been a burden.

 

"New York’s long-term care facilities have experienced unparalleled tragedy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic," the groups wrote. "Our dedicated and compassionate staffs have been at the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic, working around the clock to care for the most vulnerable population, battling this new and vastly unknown virus.  We stand with our communities in mourning the profound loss of lives, and we resolve to help ensure that this tragedy never happens again."

Nursing homes and long-term care facilities have created COVID-only wards in their facilities and have separated staff who are providing care to COVID-positive patients. 

"These steps, along with our ability to provide ample protective gear both to residents and staff, allow our facilities to continue to fight the spread of the virus while caring for our residents," they wrote in the letter. 

Signing on the letter included Neil Heyman, the president of the Southern New York Association, Greater New York Health Care Facilities Executive Director Michael Balboni and Stephen Hanse, the president and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo in May announced the twice weekly testing of nursing home staff after more than 5,000 residents either died of coronavirus or had deaths that may have been caused by the virus. Cuomo's nursing home policies during the pandemic have come under scrutiny, including a directive that required nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients. 

The state has since barred hospitals from discharging COVID-positive patients to nursing homes, but the facilities cannot turn away people who have tested positive for the virus. 

Cuomo has blamed a CDC directive for the policy.