Former New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, is set to testify next week about the unfortunate deaths that occurred in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The former Democratic governor has agreed to appear before a congressional subcommittee on September 10, where he will be expected to provide answers regarding the thousands of deaths that occurred in New York nursing homes during the pandemic.
According to the Daily Mail, Ohio Representative Brad Wenstrup, a Republican who chairs the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, stated, "Andrew Cuomo owes answers to the 15,000 families who lost loved ones in New Yorks nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic." Cuomo had previously testified behind closed doors in June, following a subpoena. Wenstrup described Cuomo's demeanor during the session as 'shockingly callous,' and noted his 'little remorse for the thousands of lives lost.'
The Cuomo administration faced intense scrutiny for a policy that initially required nursing homes to readmit recovering COVID-19 patients, in an effort to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. This policy, coupled with state fatality figures that significantly undercounted the deaths, drew widespread criticism. An independent investigation into Cuomo's handling of the pandemic concluded that his 'top-down' approach, which involved dictating public health policy through his office rather than coordinating with state and local agencies, led to confusion during the crisis.
The investigation, commissioned by current Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022, found that the administration's lack of communication with agencies and facilities resulted in wasted resources, mistrust, and anxiety for the loved ones of nursing home residents. However, the investigation, conducted by a consulting firm, also found that while the policies on how nursing homes should handle COVID-19 were rushed and uncoordinated, they were based on the best understanding of the science at the time.
The report by The Olson Group, which commended the states swift and comprehensive vaccination program in the facilities, stated that the fatality rates in these nursing homes were ultimately consistent with the rest of the country. Cuomo, who resigned from office in August 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, which he denies, was succeeded by Hochul, a fellow Democrat who had been Cuomos lieutenant. She was reelected the following year.
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