Andrew Cuomo to testify on nursing home advisory next week

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to testify publicly before Congress on September 10 regarding his nursing home advisory issued during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. This follows a previous closed-door testimony in June before the House Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. Cuomo's advisory has faced scrutiny, particularly after a 2021 investigation revealed that the New York State Department of Health significantly underreported Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes, omitting those who died after being transferred to hospitals. The investigation led by New York Attorney General Letitia James found that the death toll was underestimated by approximately 50%. Additionally, a 2022 audit indicated that Cuomo's health department failed to report around 4,100 deaths between April 2020 and February 2021. Cuomo has defended his actions, claiming that his advisory aligned with guidance from federal health agencies. Congressional representatives, including Rep. Brad Wenstrup, have expressed a desire to understand the rationale behind the March 2020 advisory, which allowed nursing homes to accept Covid-19 positive patients. Wenstrup, a physician, criticized the decision as contrary to medical common sense, emphasizing the risks posed to vulnerable populations in nursing homes. Cuomo, who resigned in August 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, has maintained his innocence regarding those claims. His upcoming testimony aims to address broader questions about the pandemic's impact and the U.S. response, particularly concerning the high death toll compared to other countries.