Cuomo aides knew nursing home report would be a disaster

An investigation by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic revealed that Andrew Cuomo's aides were aware that the nursing home death report would be problematic. Emails from aides indicated that they anticipated a significant backlash regarding the nursing home death count. The report, which was edited by Cuomo himself, downplayed the number of fatalities, and aides pressured health officials to release it despite concerns. Testimonies from key officials highlighted a lack of consultation with federal guidelines and a deliberate effort to manipulate the language in the report to minimize accountability. Dr. Jim Malatras, a former member of Cuomo's COVID task force, testified that Melissa DeRosa, a top aide, influenced the report's content to omit certain death statistics. This manipulation was justified by concerns over the accuracy of the reported numbers, which were later found to have a significant error rate. The subcommittee's findings pointed to a broader pattern of misinformation and a cover-up regarding the state's handling of nursing home fatalities during the pandemic. Cuomo's administration faced intense scrutiny for its March 25, 2020 directive that mandated nursing homes accept COVID-19 patients, which many believe contributed to the high death toll. Despite the evidence presented, Cuomo maintained that nursing homes had the option to refuse patients if they could not provide adequate care. The investigation concluded that Cuomo and his team were responsible for issuing misguided guidance and attempting to deflect blame. The subcommittee's report, based on extensive interviews and document reviews, holds Cuomo accountable for the failures during the pandemic, emphasizing the need for transparency and accurate reporting in public health crises. The findings serve as a critical reminder of the importance of accountability in government actions during emergencies.