AP tally finds more than 4,500 recovering COVID-19 patients sent to NY nursing homes
After the NY Health Department declined to release its own survey, the Associated Press compiled a count showing more than 4,500 recovering coronavirus patients were discharged from hospitals to nursing homes under the March 25 directive. Cuomo defended the policy, saying homes could have objected if they could not safely take such patients, while nursing-home operators and advocates said they felt obligated to comply. AP also noted that some states, including Louisiana, instead barred hospitals from sending COVID-19 patients to nursing homes.
Primary quotes
“Any nursing home could just say, 'I can't handle a COVID person in my facility.'”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as reported by AP
Flags / open questions
- •Single-source AP investigative tally (NY DOH declined to release its own survey)
Linked sources
Related contentions
Unresolved. The 50% undercount is confirmed by the NY AG, but the directive's causal share of nursing-home deaths was never adjudicated — the AG said only that it 'may have' increased risk, and DOJ declined CRIPA investigations in 2021; later data analyses (staffing levels, staff transmission) are cited by both sides without consensus.