New York state reported more than 1,700 previously undisclosed deaths at nursing homes and adult care facilities as officials faced scrutiny over how they have protected vulnerable residents from the coronavirus. At least 4,813 people have died from COVID-19 in the state’s nursing homes since March 1, according to a tally released late Monday that, for the first time, included people believed to have been killed by the virus before their diagnoses could be confirmed by a lab test. Exactly how many nursing home residents have died remains uncertain despite the state’s latest disclosure. The list released by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration did not include nursing home residents who were transferred to hospitals before dying. With the inclusion of the additional deaths, the state now lists 22 nursing homes as having at least 40 deaths. Most of the facilities are in New York City and on Long Island. Sixty-two nursing homes reported between 20 and 39 deaths. Parker Jewish Institute in Queens and the Isabella Geriatric Center in Manhattan are listed as having the most deaths: 71 and 64, respectively. Even those numbers are likely an undercount. Isabella Geriatric Center officials have said publicly that 98 residents are believed to have died, including those sent to hospitals. Audrey Waters, a spokeswoman for Isabella Geriatric Center, said in an email last week, that the home, like others in the city, initially had limited access to tests to quickly diagnose residents and staff. “This hampered our ability to identify those who were infected and asymptomatic, despite our efforts to swiftly separate anyone who presented symptoms,” she said. In many cases, the state’s new figures reveal many more deaths at nursing homes. For example, Ozanam Hall, a facility in Queens, now reports a total of 53 deaths, up from just 10. Several veterans homes have been hit especially hard by the virus. The Long Island State Veterans Home has reported 53 deaths, including 48 confirmed and five presumed COVID-19 deaths. Back on March 2, when only a handful of coronavirus cases had been reported in New York, Cuomo promised to make a “special effort” for nursing homes and congregate homes housing senior citizens. On March 6, the state directed nursing homes to screen visitors and consider modifying visiting hours. A week later, officials suspended visits to nursing homes statewide and required temperature checks of staff. The governor now faces questions over whether more could be done to help New York’s state-regulated nursing homes amass enough personal protective gear, get access to tests and ensure adequate staffing. His administration in early March warned nursing homes to “conserve” protective gear amid delivery delays, and later that month urged them to let local emergency management officials know if they needed more. The administration recently prioritized testing of front-line workers, including nursing home staffers. The governor has said if an overwhelmed nursing home lacks the staff to care for all patients properly, it should ask the state for help transferring patients to state-monitored beds. His office did not provide details of whether and how long nursing homes have known of that offer. Cuomo said he believed nursing homes were trying their best under difficult conditions. “The nursing homes we said from day one are the most vulnerable place,” he said. Families of residents at several of the […]
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