29 April 2020: COVID-Infected Staff Allowed to Work at NY Nursing Homes

Requiring NY Nursing Homes to Accept COVID Patients Caused Deaths

In addition to revealing a potential motive for why Governor Cuomo's administration put nursing home patients at risk with its reckless policy (fearing a surge in COVID-19 patients that could overwhelm hospitals predicted by the IHME model, which is proving to be far from accurate, the Cuomo administration effected a 'triage' policy, with nursing homes the designated losers), this article also reveals the state had fined several of the nursing homes at which it place infected coronavirus patients for unsanitary conditions as recently as earlier this year.

In other words, New York's state regulators already knew these facilities would place nursing home patients at extremely high risk because they had already faulted them for conditions that would be conducive to spreading a viral infection. Then New York state officials required these facilities to accept patients infected with the coronavirus. Then the same New York state officials refused to transfer patients the nursing homes, lacking the resources and environment needed to provide proper care, requested be moved to facilities that could.

New York let coronavirus-infected nurses work in upstate nursing home

This may be the second most disturbing news story to come out from New York. Here's the introduction:

The state Health Department allowed nurses and other staff who tested positive for the coronavirus to continue treating COVID-19 patients at an upstate nursing home, The Post has learned.

State officials signed off on the move during an April 10 conference call that excluded local officials from Steuben County, who protested the move, according to a document provided by the county government’s top administrator, Jack Wheeler.

At least 15 people have died at the Hornell Gardens nursing home in the tiny town of Hornell since the outbreak, according to county tallies. State records show just seven deaths across the county and include no data about this home.

Allowing staff known to have tested positive for carrying the deadly coronavirus and at high risk of being contagious continue working to provide care to nursing home patients is the equivalent of knowingly allowing a serial killer the freedom to move from victim to victim. This isn't just a reckless policy, it may qualify as either manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide on the part of those who gave the green light to make this happen.

State Ends Policy Allowing COVID-Positive Nursing Home Staffers to Work

It didn't take long for New York's public health officials to rescind their policy of allowing health care by coronavirus-infected nursing home staff after it was exposed. Meanwhile, the state's policy of requiring nursing homes to admit coronavirus-infected patients remains in force.