Governor Cuomo has repeatedly said during his mid-day Coronavirus briefings that every action being taken is based on “the FACTS”.

During his May 20th news conference, when he was asked about the large number of deaths in New York State Nursing Homes he responded “Why did the state do that with COVID patients in nursing homes? It’s because the state followed President Trump’s CDC guidance.”

Sorry Governor, the facts don’t support your excuse. The infamous March 25 NYS Health Dept Directive to Nursing Home Administrators, Directors of Nursing, and Hospital Discharge Planners contained the following: “Hospital discharge planners must confirm to the NH (Nursing Homes), by telephone, that the resident is medically stable for discharge. Comprehensive discharge instructions must be provided by the hospital prior to the transport of a resident to the NH.” 

 “No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the NH solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19. NHs are prohibited from requiring a hospitalized resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission.” 

Prior to March 25th the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) issued their March 13th 2020 document: “Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes (REVISED)” cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-14-nh-revised.pdf

On page 4 of the document: “When should a nursing home accept a resident who was diagnosed with COVID-19 from a hospital?  A nursing home can accept a resident diagnosed with COVID-19 and still under Transmission- Based Precautions for COVID-19 as long as the facility can follow CDC guidance for Transmission-Based Precautions.  If a nursing home cannot, it must wait until these precautions are discontinued.”

A Joe Friday our Governor is not.