Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo faced intense scrutiny during a congressional subcommittee hearing regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in nursing homes. The focus was on a directive issued in March 2020 that initially prevented nursing homes from refusing COVID-19 patients. This directive was later rescinded amid concerns that it may have contributed to outbreaks.
Republicans criticized Cuomo for the directive, calling it 'deadly' and 'dangerous and disastrous.' Cuomo defended his actions, attributing shortcomings to the federal government's response. He denied allegations of a cover-up and emphasized the need to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.
The hearing did not conclusively address whether discharged patients were still contagious or if they spread the virus in nursing homes. Cuomo refuted claims that the directive led to deaths, stating that the report found no causality.
There was a tense exchange between Cuomo and a congresswoman regarding a book deal and apologies to families. The committee accused Cuomo of commissioning a biased report to downplay the directive's impact on fatalities.
Cuomo resigned in August 2021 due to sexual harassment allegations. His reputation suffered after incomplete data on nursing home deaths was revealed. A state report found that policies were rushed but based on the best available science.
The hearing shed light on the complexities of managing COVID-19 in nursing homes and the challenges faced by officials during the pandemic. The debate over Cuomo's actions continues, with differing perspectives on accountability and responsibility.
