the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Albany NY, Two weeks ago, Governor Andrew Cuomo was first asked about his policy that forced nursing homes to admit patients infected with the coronavirus.“That’s a good question, I don’t know,” the governor answered, turning to an aide.
On Tuesday, Cuomo was asked about a report from the Associated Press that his team had added more than 1,700 deaths to the count of those who died in nursing homes, bringing the total to at least 4,813.“I don’t know the details, frankly,” the governor.
According to the CDC, “Given their congregate nature and residents served (e.g., older adults often with underlying chronic medical conditions), nursing home populations are at the highest risk of being affected by COVID-19. If infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, residents are at increased risk of serious illness.”
Nursing home deaths represent 25% of all deaths in New York state, and 50% of the Deaths from COVID-19 in New Jersey .According to nursing home executives , Governor Cuomo issued a March 25 order that forced infected patients on nursing homes, allows for no exceptions and has not been changed.
The fifth paragraph reads: “No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the nursing home solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19. Nursing home’s are prohibited from requiring a hospitalized resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission.” The March 25 order was a death sentence. Some facilities say they had no deaths or even positive patients before that date, but many of both since, including staff members.
Owners and managers of New York Nursing homes said Tuesday they are not aware of any loosening of the policy. They also say that hospitals still are referring infected patients to them on a near-daily basis and they are expected to take them if they have an empty bed.
90% of these homes are dirty. This is all news please stop. Someone needs to inspect all the sites.