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Cuomo grilled over nursing home COVID-19 directive in heated hearing

Cuomo faces tough questions on nursing home COVID-19 policy at hearing

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faced intense criticism during a congressional subcommittee hearing on Tuesday regarding his management of the COVID-19 crisis in nursing homes. The hearing was marked by fierce exchanges, particularly over a directive from March 2020 that prevented nursing homes from rejecting patients solely based on their COVID-19 status. This directive led to over 9,000 recovering COVID-19 patients being sent back to nursing homes, a policy later revoked amid concerns it worsened outbreaks.

New York Representative Elise Stefanik labelled the directive as “deadly.” Ohio Representative Brad Wenstrup, chairing the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, criticised the directive as inconsistent with federal guidelines, calling its outcomes “dangerous and disastrous.” Republicans accused Cuomo of a cover-up to mask errors that jeopardised nursing home residents. Wenstrup stated, “Governor, you own this. It’s your name on the letterhead. This is your directive, whether you knew about it or not. You’re the leader. The buck stops with you, or at least it should.”

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In over two hours of testimony, Cuomo defended his decisions, attributing failures to the Trump administration’s inadequate provision of testing and personal protective equipment early in the pandemic. “These are all diversions to blame New York and other states for the culpability of the federal response, which was malpractice,” he argued.

The hearing did not resolve disputes over the directive, intended to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients who needed nursing home care but were not critically ill. The House committee’s report did not address whether many discharged patients were still contagious or if they transmitted the virus within nursing homes. Some public health experts suggest most deaths in nursing homes during the early pandemic likely stemmed from staff, visiting family members, or fellow patients.

Cuomo insisted the committee’s report lacked evidence that the directive caused virus spread, stating, “In fact, the report finds no causality whatsoever. Not one death.” During a contentious moment, Stefanik confronted Cuomo about negotiating a book deal as nursing home deaths occurred, demanding an apology to the grieving families present. Cuomo retorted, “This is not about political theatre.”

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The committee also found that Cuomo and his aides attempted to deflect blame by commissioning a report concluding that the rescinded directive had minimal impact on fatalities. Approximately 15,000 COVID-19 deaths occurred among New York’s long-term care residents, significantly higher than initially reported. Cuomo claimed some numbers were initially withheld due to accuracy concerns.

“The governor was desperate to change the narrative — to dispel the notion that his administration failed nursing home residents,” remarked Republican Representative James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee.

Cuomo resigned in August 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, which he denies. Although initially seen as a reassuring figure during the pandemic’s early days, his reputation suffered after it was revealed his administration underreported nursing home and assisted living facility deaths. He testified before the subcommittee in June behind closed doors, with top former administration officials also interviewed.

A separate state report by Cuomo’s successor, Governor Kathy Hochul, released this summer found that while the policies for handling COVID-19 in nursing homes were “rushed and uncoordinated,” they were based on the best available scientific understanding at the time.

What Other Media Are Saying
  • PBS News reports on former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s combative testimony at a House subcommittee hearing, where he defended his administration’s COVID-19 nursing home policies, accusing Republicans of politicizing the issue and attempting to deflect from former President Trump’s pandemic failures.(read more)
  • AP News reports that former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to provide public testimony on his handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes, with Republicans accusing him of a ‘cover-up’ amid allegations of underreported deaths.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions asked about this news

What was the controversial directive issued by Cuomo in March 2020?

The directive barred nursing homes from refusing COVID-19 patients.

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Why did Cuomo defend his actions during the congressional hearing?

Cuomo blamed the federal response for failing to provide enough testing and PPE.

Did the House committee report find evidence that the directive spread the virus?

The report found no evidence that the directive caused the spread of the virus.

Why were some COVID-19 death figures initially withheld by Cuomo’s administration?

Cuomo said figures were withheld due to concerns about accuracy.

What did the separate state report commissioned by Gov. Hochul conclude?

The report found the policies were rushed and uncoordinated but based on the best understanding of science at the time.

Matthew Coles

Matthew is a British journalist with a unique flair in reporting about the latest news and events happening in Europe. Matthew focuses on producing well-researched, balanced, and narrative-driven content related to both national and regional interests across various European countries. He is passionate about discovering the diverse cultures found within Europe and showcasing them through his insightful articles.

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