14 THE QUEENS COURIER • FEBRUARY 4, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Failing the most vulnerable
Like an iceberg, the most damning details
of Attorney General Letitia James’ report on
COVID-19 nursing home resident deaths in
New York lie below the surface of the most
notable points.
Th e state Health Department, as James
reported, undercounted the COVID-19
fatalities in New York — a subject that opponents
of Governor Andrew Cuomo have
tried to weaponize against him in recent
months. Th e report also found that the
state’s own guidance for admitting COVID-
19 positive patients into nursing homes may
have contributed to the spread.
It may be tempting for cynical partisans to
read the report and cry out, “I told you so,”
but not so fast. Th e fact that the undercounting
happened isn’t necessarily evidence of
criminal wrongdoing — at least not yet.
In many ways, the fi ndings about the
nursing homes themselves are far more horrifi
c.
Too many facilities, according to James,
did not comply with infection protocols —
which caused a rapid spread of the illness
among staff and patients. Workers lacked
the proper PPE and testing.
Th e lowest-rated nursing homes, under
U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare
Services Staffi ng reviews, had the highest
number of COVID-19 deaths. Th e current
state reimbursement system, James noted,
also allowed unscrupulous nursing home
owners to fi nancially profi t off the pandemic
rather than focus on protecting their clients
and workers.
James’ report must propel an eff ort to
hold those responsible for this situation to
account, and to dramatically reform the
New York nursing care industry, across the
board.
State lawmakers should pursue an independent
investigation into state COVID-
19 policy as well as the actions of nursing
homes during the pandemic. Th e attorney
general should continue her investigation
and, where appropriate, seek civil or criminal
legal action.
Finally, Albany lawmakers must pass in
this session comprehensive nursing home
reform that sets higher safety standards and
eliminates the ability of unscrupulous operators
to make a quick buck off minimal standards
of care.
Th e COVID-19 pandemic, horrifi c as it
has been, has also proved enlightening in
exposing long-ignored societal problems.
It’s launched movements to fi nally end societal
inequality that has been allowed to fester
and strengthen for generations.
If we’re honest with ourselves, we would
realize that New York has been failing the
most vulnerable New Yorkers for years.
We must now confront that inconvenient
truth, and take the needed measures to prevent
future tragedies.
Story: ‘A huge win’: Construction of protected bike
lane, pedestrian walkway on Queensboro Bridge to
begin this year
Summary: During his State of the City address,
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city would
begin construction to convert the outer roadways
on the Queensboro Bridge into a two-way bike lane
and pedestrian-only walkway.
Reach: 3,054 (as of 02/01/21)
Photo by Todd Maisel
A report released by Attorney General Letitia James’ offi ce found that the state’s own guidance
for admitting COVID-19 positive patients into nursing homes may have contributed to the
spread of the disease.
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