Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo grilled by lawmakers over covid response

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – House lawmakers grilled former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo over his handling of the pandemic.

Specifically, a March 2020 New York Health Department directive that said nursing homes should admit covid-positive patients.

“Your directive was not consistent with federal guidance, nor consistent with medical doctrine. You do not put highly contagious patients in with vulnerable patients,” said Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio.).

More than 9,000 potentially covid-positive patients were admitted to nursing homes.  At the time, the move was meant to help with hospital capacity.

Cuomo says that directive was in compliance with federal guidelines and didn’t lead to spread.

“All credible studies say COVID came into nursing homes through community spread and infected staff, not hospital admissions,” said Cuomo.The panel also questioned Cuomo over data they say he misrepresented.  In 2021 the state’s attorney general issued a report finding his administration had underreported nursing home deaths by as much as 50%.

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Congressman Brad Wenstrup said the investigation into Cuomo’s pandemic response will continue.  He announced a subpoena for New York’s governor’s office seeking documents when Cuomo was in office.

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