7 March 2020: New York Declares State of Emergency

Cuomo declares state of emergency in New York as state coronavirus cases soar to 89

This article outlines one of the earliest actions Governor Cuomo took in addressing New York's coronavirus epidemic. In the following excerpt, he clearly knew that nursing home patients were uniquely at risk from coronavirus infections and was taking action to reduce their risks of exposure:

Nursing homes and senior living facilities in the New Rochelle area will be asked to suspend outside visitors, he said.

“Nursing homes are the most problematic setting for us,” given that the virus is most deadly for elderly and medically compromised patients, Cuomo said.

This article confirms Governor Cuomo has known the risks of coronavirus infection to nursing home patients from the very beginning of the coronavirus epidemic in the state of New York.