By CASEY HARPER

THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) — Republicans on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis and the House Oversight Committee have joined forces in an investigation into the thousands of nursing home deaths in New State. York during COVID, saying New York Democrats ignored previous investigations.

The controversy began in 2020 when thousands of New York City nursing home residents died during the pandemic, drawing closer scrutiny from the government of the day. Andrew Cuomo’s policy of sending elderly patients recovering from COVID-19 to nursing homes.

Subsequently, Mr. Cuomo was criticized for allegations that he intentionally concealed deaths in nursing homes. New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released an audit earlier this year stating that the New York Department of Health “failed to account for more than approximately 4,100 lives in nursing homes. retirement due to COVID-19”.

“While the Department’s duty is to act only to promote public health, we have determined that, rather than providing accurate and reliable information during a public health emergency, the Department has instead matched its presentation to the narrative. of the executive, often presenting data in a way that misled the public,” the audit said.

Lawmakers have sent a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul demanding records of key information, including the total number of deaths and guidelines issued by the governor’s office “regarding discharges from hospitals to homes of nursing or any other kind of assisted living…”

“We owe it to the thousands of families who have lost loved ones in New York City nursing homes to hold Governor Cuomo accountable for his reckless policies that likely contributed to their deaths,” said Committee Ranking Member James Comer. monitoring. “It is high time that New York officials provide Congress with all the information and data on former Governor Cuomo’s murderous order. We need answers and accountability now.

Republicans say they have previously sent inquiries to Mr. Cuomo’s office to no avail.

“Every family deserves answers and accountability for the Corrupt Cuomo order that resulted in the deaths of thousands of elderly people in New York City nursing homes. For the sake of the families who needlessly lost loved ones, I provide critical oversight of all data on Cuomo’s death order,” said House Republican Conference Speaker Elise Stefanik. “We need to know what Kathy Hochul knew about Cuomo’s criminal retirement home cover-up and be held accountable for the senseless loss of life.”

Governor Hochul’s office did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.