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Nursing homes

Flu Cases Up, Now Deemed 'Prevalent' By NY Health Officials Flu Cases Up, Now Deemed 'Prevalent' By NY Health Officials
Flu Cases Up, Now Deemed 'Prevalent' By NY Health Officials If you haven’t gotten your flu shot this year, now’s the time to do so. New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald declared that influenza is “now prevalent” in the state on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The declaration requires healthcare workers who have not received this year’s flu vaccine to wear masks in places like hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices. "Health care personnel who are not vaccinated against the flu this season need to take extra precautions and wear a mask in health care facilities, as they are exposed to sick patients and come into close contact with those most vulnerab…
COVID-19: NY Public Transit Mask Mandate To Remain In Place Despite Federal Court Ruling COVID-19: NY Public Transit Mask Mandate To Remain In Place Despite Federal Court Ruling
Covid-19: NY Public Transit Mask Mandate To Remain In Place Despite Federal Court Ruling Although a federal judge in Florida voided a nationwide mask mandate for all public transportation hubs, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that in the "short term,” facial coverings will still be required in certain settings in New York. During a COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, April 20, Hochul said that people in New York will still be required to wear masks on buses, trains, and airplanes, as well as indoor transit settings, despite the federal ruling. “We are going to continue for public transit,” Hochul said. “Let's just be smart about it.” Earlier story - COVID-19: Federal Judge Stri…
COVID-19: Audit Cites 'Distortion, Suppression Of Facts' In Nursing Home Reporting Under Cuomo COVID-19: Audit Cites 'Distortion, Suppression Of Facts' In Nursing Home Reporting Under Cuomo
Covid-19: Audit Cites 'Distortion, Suppression Of Facts' In Nursing Home Reporting Under Cuomo The state Health Department intentionally “misled the public” regarding the number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes under former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration, according to a scathing audit from the Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. When the COVID-19 pandemic swept through New York, the Department of Health was not prepared to respond to the infectious disease outbreaks in nursing homes, according to the audit, which helped lead to the inaccurate virus-related death count in facilities. Auditors found that health officials undercounted the death toll in nursing homes by at le…
COVID-19: Hochul Gives Update On Status Of Remaining Mask Mandates COVID-19: Hochul Gives Update On Status Of Remaining Mask Mandates
Covid-19: Hochul Gives Update On Status Of Remaining Mask Mandates COVID-19-related mandates are slowly but surely being lifted in New York, and Gov. Kathy Hochul has provided an update on some of the remaining mask requirements. While mask mandates have been lifted statewide in most locales - most notably schools as of Wednesday, March 2 - they are still required on public transportation, inside transportation hubs, and inside certain congregate settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons until further data says it's safe to ditch them. Earlier story - COVID-19: Wearing Masks Still Recommended In These NY Counties On Monday, Feb. 28, Hoch…
Former Rockland Owner Of Nursing Homes Charged In $39M Tax Dodge Former Rockland Owner Of Nursing Homes Charged In $39M Tax Dodge
Former Rockland Owner Of Nursing Homes Charged In $39M Tax Dodge An insurance broker from Rockland County who ran a nationwide network of nearly 100 nursing homes from an office over a Bergen County pizzeria ducked nearly $39 million in payroll taxes, a federal indictment unsealed on Monday, Jan. 24 alleges. Joseph Schwartz, age 62, was arrested at his Suffern home  Thursday, Jan. 20.  A federal judge in Newark released him to home confinement hours later, with conditions, pending trial. Then came the announcement on Monday, also out of Newark. Schwartz’s Skyline Healthcare LLC amassed 95 nursing homes in 11 states nationwide in less than two…
COVID-19: Hochul Announces Urgent Action Amid Concern Over New Strain Of Virus COVID-19: Hochul Announces Urgent Action Amid Concern Over New Strain Of Virus
Covid-19: Hochul Announces Urgent Action Amid Concern Over New Strain Of Virus New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced urgent new protocols to boost hospital capacity amid concern over the new COVID-19 variant and possible spikes in cases this winter.  The governor said in an announcement on Friday, Nov. 26, that the state is preparing for a potential uptick in cases, adding that the Omicron variant has not yet been detected in the state. "We've taken extraordinary action to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and combat this pandemic," Hochul said. "However, we continue to see warning signs of spikes this upcoming winter, and while the new Omicron variant has yet to be …
COVID-19: Eight Dead, 89 Infected In Outbreak At Connecticut Nursing Home COVID-19: Eight Dead, 89 Infected In Outbreak At Connecticut Nursing Home
Covid-19: Eight Dead, 89 Infected In Outbreak At Connecticut Nursing Home Eight residents of a Connecticut nursing home have died during a COVID-19 outbreak that has lasted nearly six weeks. A total of 89 employees and residents have tested positive since the outbreak began at the Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, located in Litchfield County, in the Town of Canaan, on Thursday, Sept. 30. "Despite seeing significant numbers of residents recovering from Covid," the facility's chief executive Kevin O’Connell and nursing director Cady Bloodgood said in a statement. "testing has resulted in one additional positive case among fully vaccinated resi…
COVID-19: NY Sees Notable Increase In Vaccination Rates Among Health Care Workers COVID-19: NY Sees Notable Increase In Vaccination Rates Among Health Care Workers
Covid-19: NY Sees Notable Increase In Vaccination Rates Among Health Care Workers COVID-19 vaccination rates among health care workers across New York State increased notably in the weeks leading up to the state's mandate, according to new data released by Gov. Kathy Hochul. In August, the state announced a requirement for staff at hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, adult care facilities, and other congregate settings to get vaccinated no later than Monday, Sept. 27. Earlier coverage - COVID-19: All NY Health Care Workers Will Be Required To Get Vaccines The day after the deadline, Hochul shared an update about the percentage of health care worker…
COVID-19: All NY Health Care Workers Will Be Required To Get Vaccines COVID-19: All NY Health Care Workers Will Be Required To Get Vaccines
Covid-19: All NY Health Care Workers Will Be Required To Get Vaccines All health care workers in New York State will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine, with only limited exceptions for those with religious or medical exemptions. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that staff at hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, adult care, and other congregate settings will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than Monday, Sept. 27. To date, 75 percent of the state’s estimated 450,000 hospital workers, 74 percent of the state’s 30,000 adult care facility workers, and 68 percent of the state’s 145,500 nursing home workers have compl…
Tick, Tock: Lawmakers Give Cuomo Deadline To Submit Evidence Amid Impeachment Inquiry Tick, Tock: Lawmakers Give Cuomo Deadline To Submit Evidence Amid Impeachment Inquiry
Tick, Tock: Lawmakers Give Cuomo Deadline To Submit Evidence Amid Impeachment Inquiry The clock is ticking on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo as the Assembly Judiciary Committee nears the conclusion of its impeachment inquiry into the embattled head of state. A new letter sent by the Committee to the governor’s counsel said that they will “soon consider potential articles of impeachment,” and his defense team has until Friday, Aug. 13 to provide any final evidence or statements to be considered as part of the probe. Related story - Calls Grow For Cuomo's Resignation Following Release Of NY AG's Sexual Harassment Report The impeachment inquiry was first launched in March, w…
COVID-19: Cuomo Responds After DOJ Announces It Won't Investigate NY Nursing Home Deaths COVID-19: Cuomo Responds After DOJ Announces It Won't Investigate NY Nursing Home Deaths
Covid-19: Cuomo Responds After DOJ Announces It Won't Investigate NY Nursing Home Deaths New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has issued a statement following the Justice Department's decision not to open a civil rights investigation into the state's COVID-19 response in its nursing homes. Requests for data from the nursing homes had previously been made due to questions about whether New York and other states worsened the COVID-19 death toll by requiring the facilities to accept residents who had been hospitalized for COVID-19. GOP Rep. Steve Scalise reported on Friday, July 23, that the Justice Department sent him a letter saying it would not open the investigation. 🚨🚨 BREAKING—Bi…
COVID-19: Cuomo's Nursing Home Directive Led To Additional Deaths, New Report Says COVID-19: Cuomo's Nursing Home Directive Led To Additional Deaths, New Report Says
Covid-19: Cuomo's Nursing Home Directive Led To Additional Deaths, New Report Says Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s directive last spring to nursing homes in New York to admit COVID-19 patients led to additional deaths, according to a newly released report✎ EditSign. The New York State Bar Association Task Force on Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care released the 242-page report criticizing the governor for not reversing the March 2020 order earlier than he did. “Although a determination of the number of additional nursing home deaths is beyond the capacity of the Task Force, there are credible reviews that suggest that the directive, for the approximately six weeks, that it wa…
COVID-19: Date Announced When Mask Mandate Will Be Dropped For Vaccinated People In NY COVID-19: Date Announced When Mask Mandate Will Be Dropped For Vaccinated People In NY
Covid-19: Date Announced When Mask Mandate Will Be Dropped For Vaccinated People In NY New York will be loosening its mask and social distance guidance as it follows the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During a COVID-19 briefing at Radio City Music Hall on Monday, May 17, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that as of Wednesday, May 19, the state will be adopting new guidelines for those who are vaccinated. The new guidance from the federal government calls for continued mask-wearing in more crowded indoor spaces such as on mass transportation, hospitals, prisons, or homeless shelters, but eases restrictions on workplaces, school…
COVID-19: Aide Hid Nursing Home Death Toll As Cuomo Sought $4M Book Deal, New Report Says COVID-19: Aide Hid Nursing Home Death Toll As Cuomo Sought $4M Book Deal, New Report Says
Covid-19: Aide Hid Nursing Home Death Toll As Cuomo Sought $4M Book Deal, New Report Says While his administration was working to cover up the number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was working toward a multi-million dollar book deal touting his success during the pandemic, according to a new report. The New York Times reported that Cuomo's work on his book last summer, which relied on assistance from his aides and staffers, overlapped the efforts by his administration to undercount virus-related deaths in New York nursing homes in a health department report. While his aides were working on covering up nursing home deaths over the summer, Cu…
Cuomo Impeachment Investigation Will Go Beyond Sexual Harassment Allegations Cuomo Impeachment Investigation Will Go Beyond Sexual Harassment Allegations
Cuomo Impeachment Investigation Will Go Beyond Sexual Harassment Allegations As the New York State Assembly moves forward with its impeachment investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo, lawmakers are advising that the scope of it will be “very broad” and will expand past just the sexual harassment claims of seven women. Last week, the Assembly voted to move forward with its investigation, which could lead to the first impeachment trial in New York in over a century. The investigation is expected to focus on the harassment allegations and the COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes and subsequent attempted coverup by his administration. Lawmakers are also expected to look into a…
COVID-19: Cuomo Got Seven-Figure Advance For His Controversial Book Now Pulled From Publication COVID-19: Cuomo Got Seven-Figure Advance For His Controversial Book Now Pulled From Publication
Covid-19: Cuomo Got Seven-Figure Advance For His Controversial Book Now Pulled From Publication New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reportedly received a seven-figure advance for his much-maligned book about leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic that was written while the virus was still surging across the country. Cuomo, who has come under fire for underreporting COVID deaths in nursing homes and then attempting to have his administration cover it up, was paid handsomely for his controversial book touting the state’s response to the pandemic, according to a new Vanity Fair story. That report comes just as Crown Publishing announced it has stopped promoting and printing new copies of Cuomo'…
Cuomo Aides Doctored Documents To Hide Higher Number Of Nursing Home Deaths, New Report Says Cuomo Aides Doctored Documents To Hide Higher Number Of Nursing Home Deaths, New Report Says
Cuomo Aides Doctored Documents To Hide Higher Number Of Nursing Home Deaths, New Report Says New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is again making headlines for the wrong reasons, this time because his aides reportedly doctored documents to conceal the number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes at the height of the pandemic. It is alleged in a New York Times report that Cuomo’s aides rewrote a report from state health officials to conceal the true number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes while strengthening his reputation as a leader. According to the report, Cuomo’s aides rewrote the report before it went public to omit 9,250 deaths that were recorded by the state Health Department, prompt…
New Poll: Cuomo Should Not Seek Fourth Term, NYers Say, Amid New Democratic Calls To Resign New Poll: Cuomo Should Not Seek Fourth Term, NYers Say, Amid New Democratic Calls To Resign
New Poll: Cuomo Should Not Seek Fourth Term, NYers Say, Amid New Democratic Calls To Resign As embattled Gov. Andrew Cuomo navigates his way through multiple crises, many New Yorkers are calling for him to back off and not seek a fourth term in office next year, according to a new poll. A new Emerson College poll found that more than 64 percent of voters think Cuomo should not seek a fourth term, with Democrats split down the middle on the issue. After seeing his approval rating surge during the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the poll found that it is down to 38.4 percent, with 47.8 percent disapproving, and 13.8 unsure whether they approve of Cuomo. Just 36 percent of those po…
COVID-19: Here Are Testing Restrictions In Place As New York Resumes Nursing Home Visits COVID-19: Here Are Testing Restrictions In Place As New York Resumes Nursing Home Visits
Covid-19: Here Are Testing Restrictions In Place As New York Resumes Nursing Home Visits Nursing homes in New York will resume indoor visitation this week with certain testing restrictions in place depending on the county’s progress in combating COVID-19. Testing will not be required in counties with a positivity rate below 5 percent, while rapid testing will be required for any visitors in counties with a positivity rate between 5 percent and 10 percent. Regular visitation will not be allowed in counties with a positivity rate above 10 percent. Visits will also only be permitted at nursing homes that go 14 days without a COVID-19 case inside the facility within staff or resid…
COVID-19: Cuomo Calls For Nursing Home Reform Amid Federal Probe, Increasing Pressure COVID-19: Cuomo Calls For Nursing Home Reform Amid Federal Probe, Increasing Pressure
Covid-19: Cuomo Calls For Nursing Home Reform Amid Federal Probe, Increasing Pressure With pressure coming from both sides of the aisle into investigating New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handling of nursing homes during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has vowed sweeping reform as part of the 30-day amendments. Cuomo announced reforms to improve the health, quality of life, and safety of nursing home residents to ensure that “facilities prioritize patient care over profits.” “You can’t say to a nursing home that ‘either you can buy new beds, or you can make more money,' " Cuomo said during a COVID-19 briefing on Friday, Feb. 19. “It’s not a matter of hiring more staff or …
COVID-19: Nursing Home Scandal Fallout Increases As More Dems Turn On Cuomo, Feds Launch Probe COVID-19: Nursing Home Scandal Fallout Increases As More Dems Turn On Cuomo, Feds Launch Probe
Covid-19: Nursing Home Scandal Fallout Increases As More Dems Turn On Cuomo, Feds Launch Probe The heat is on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo as he attempts to counter the fallout from both sides of the aisle over his handling of COVID-19 cases in the state’s nursing homes. Some state Democrats have joined in the cacophony of Republican voices expressing outrage over Cuomo’s administration underreporting and subsequent coverup of COVID-19-related nursing home deaths in New York. The federal government is now planning to launch a probe into the scandal that has turned Cuomo from an Emmy award-winning national figure touted for his daily COVID-19 briefings complete with power-point slides …
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of NYers Who Think Cuomo Is Providing Accurate Info, New Poll Says COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of NYers Who Think Cuomo Is Providing Accurate Info, New Poll Says
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of NYers Who Think Cuomo Is Providing Accurate Info, New Poll Says Despite the controversy surrounding Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handling and reporting of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, the majority of New Yorkers still believe he’s providing accurate information to the public, according to a new Siena College poll. Voters in the latest poll found that 61 percent of New Yorkers approve the job Cuomo is doing during the pandemic, down slightly, while 34 percent do not approve. The poll also determined that 67 percent of New Yorkers give Cuomo a positive grade for communicating with the public, while 61 percent said that they believe he is providing accurate in…
COVID-19: Cuomo Admits Lack Of Transparency On Reporting Nursing Home Data Amid Backlash COVID-19: Cuomo Admits Lack Of Transparency On Reporting Nursing Home Data Amid Backlash
Covid-19: Cuomo Admits Lack Of Transparency On Reporting Nursing Home Data Amid Backlash In his first public comments on a top aide's admission that his administration "froze" when asked by both federal and state officials to release data on COVID-19 nursing home fatalities, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the lack of transparency was a mistake. Cuomo said “there was a delay,” in reporting the data, and that void led to “skepticism, cynicism and conspiracy theories which furthered confusion" in a news briefing held in Albany on Monday, Feb. 15. "We should have provided more information faster," Cuomo said. "We were too focused on doing the job and addressing the crisis of the …
Many State Senators Want To Strip Cuomo Of Emergency Powers, Citing Nursing Home Cover-Up Many State Senators Want To Strip Cuomo Of Emergency Powers, Citing Nursing Home Cover-Up
Many State Senators Want To Strip Cuomo Of Emergency Powers, Citing Nursing Home Cover-Up This story has been updated. New York State Senate Republicans, and now, a growing number of Democratic Senators, are seeking a special session in an effort to remove Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s emergency powers in the wake of the report into the underreporting of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes statewide. Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt and members of the Republican Conference called on the Senate Majority to convene a special session and strip Cuomo of his emergency powers while calling for a thorough investigation into his administration. They were later joined by 14 Democratic senators. …
COVID-19: NY Supreme Court Rules Against Cuomo, DOH On Nursing Home Data COVID-19: NY Supreme Court Rules Against Cuomo, DOH On Nursing Home Data
Covid-19: NY Supreme Court Rules Against Cuomo, DOH On Nursing Home Data New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo continues facing pressure for his administration’s handling of the state’s nursing home during the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York State Supreme Court has ruled that Cuomo has five business days to respond to a FOIL request to release data on COVID-19 in nursing homes after a lawsuit was filed by Sen. Jim Tedisco and the Empire Center for Public Policy. Original story - COVID-19: NY AG Report Says Nursing Home Deaths May Have Been Undercounted By 50 Percent The lawsuit sought the release of Health Emergency Response Data System data that is re…
COVID-19: DOJ Will Decide Whether To Probe Cuomo's Nursing Home Response, White House Says COVID-19: DOJ Will Decide Whether To Probe Cuomo's Nursing Home Response, White House Says
Covid-19: DOJ Will Decide Whether To Probe Cuomo's Nursing Home Response, White House Says The United States Department of Justice will determine whether or not to investigate the alleged underreporting of COVID-19 deaths in New York nursing homes. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday, Jan. 29 that it will be up to the Department of Justice to investigate following a report from New York Attorney General Letitia James, which found that the state may have underreported nursing home deaths by upwards of 50 percent. Earlier story - COVID-19: NY AG Report Says Nursing Home Deaths May Have Been Undercounted By 50 Percent “I’ve seen those reports,” Psaki said during a …
COVID-19: NY Health Director Denies Undercount On Nursing Home Deaths After Scathing AG Report COVID-19: NY Health Director Denies Undercount On Nursing Home Deaths After Scathing AG Report
Covid-19: NY Health Director Denies Undercount On Nursing Home Deaths After Scathing AG Report New York Health Commissioner Howard Zucker is defending the state following Attorney General Letitia James’ newly released report that alleges COVID-19 deaths in the state's nursing homes were underreported by as much as 50 percent. The report found the state negligible for COVID-19-related deaths inside New York nursing homes that had previously gone unreported, which Zucker has denied in a lengthy statement released late on Thursday, Jan. 28, just hours after the report was released. Earlier story - COVID-19: NY AG Report Says Nursing Home Deaths May Have Been Undercounted By 50 Percent …
COVID-19: NY AG Report Says Nursing Home Deaths May Have Been Undercounted By 50 Percent COVID-19: NY AG Report Says Nursing Home Deaths May Have Been Undercounted By 50 Percent
Covid-19: NY AG Report Says Nursing Home Deaths May Have Been Undercounted By 50 Percent The New York State Department of Health may have undercounted the number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes by upwards of 50 percent, according to a new report from the Attorney General’s Office. New York AG Letitia James released the report on her office’s ongoing investigation into nursing homes’ responses ✎ EditSignto the pandemic that was critical of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Department of Health’s initial guidance to admit COVID-19 patients into nursing homes. The investigations also found that nursing homes’ lack of compliance with infection control protocols “put residents at incre…
COVID-19: CVS To Hire Thousands To Distribute Vaccine COVID-19: CVS To Hire Thousands To Distribute Vaccine
Covid-19: CVS To Hire Thousands To Distribute Vaccine With the first COVID-19 vaccine expected to be approved by federal health officials this week, CVS is calling in the cavalry to speed up the administration of the cure. CVS Pharmacy is expected to hire thousands of nurses, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians across the country to help expedite the administration of the vaccine, as the nation sees a spike in new COVID-19 cases. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will meet on Thursday, Dec. 10 to determine if the new vaccines produced by Pfizer and other companies are safe and effective, at which point it is expected to be distributed to…
COVID-19: 170,000 Vaccines Coming To New York, Here's Who Will Get Them COVID-19: 170,000 Vaccines Coming To New York, Here's Who Will Get Them
Covid-19: 170,000 Vaccines Coming To New York, Here's Who Will Get Them The first batch of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines will include 170,000 doses that are earmarked for New York’s nursing homes, healthcare workers, and other vulnerable populations. During his COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Dec. 2 in Albany, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the first batch is coming to New York, with more on the way from both Pfizer and Moderna expected later in the month. Those vaccinated will have to get two doses, with the second round expected to be delivered by Pfizer 21 days after the first arrive on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Cuomo said that the number of vaccines heading to eac…
COVID-19: Visitation Restrictions Relaxed At Nursing Homes, 
NY DOH Says COVID-19: Visitation Restrictions Relaxed At Nursing Homes, 
NY DOH Says
Covid-NY DOH Says New York is easing up on its nursing home visitation restrictions as the state continues to combat the spread of COVID-19. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, state health officials announced that approximately 500 of the state’s 613 nursing homes can reopen to visitors if they have not had any positive COIVD-19 cases for at least 14 days, down from the previous mandate of no cases within 28 days. The new rules come into effect on Thursday, Sept. 17 following thousands of confirmed and presumed COVID-19-related deaths in nursing homes across the state, especially at the outset of the outbreak. "We under…