Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing accusations of personally editing a state report to hide the true number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.
According to National Review, Cuomo and his top aides made significant changes to a July 2020 report, removing data that showed higher death tolls in nursing homes.
The allegations stem from a New York Times investigation, which revealed that Cuomo's efforts to alter the report were more extensive than previously known. The former governor's actions have reignited controversy surrounding his handling of the pandemic, particularly in relation to nursing home residents.
According to the memo, Cuomo was directly involved in editing a July 2020 report issued by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). This report, which undercounted nursing home Covid-19 deaths, was allegedly crafted to counter scrutiny of a controversial March 2020 directive that required nursing homes to admit coronavirus-positive patients.
Jim Malatras, a Cuomo adviser, testified that the former governor reviewed and edited the document multiple times. This testimony aligns with the findings of a 2021 impeachment report and contradicts Cuomo's public denial of involvement in the report's creation.
The memo reveals that Cuomo transmitted his edits through aides and handwritten notes, further solidifying his direct role in shaping the report's content.
The March 2020 directive at the center of this controversy forced nursing homes to admit Covid-positive patients, resulting in over 9,000 such admissions. This policy, which was inconsistent with federal guidelines, was later rescinded following public outcry. Representative Brad Wenstrup, chairman of the House Select Subcommittee, stated:
The Cuomo Administration is responsible for recklessly exposing New York's most vulnerable population to COVID-19. Today's memo holds Mr. Cuomo and his team accountable for their failures and provides the most detailed and comprehensive accounting of New York's pandemic-era wrongdoing.
The directive's potential consequences were apparent even within the Cuomo administration. An internal email revealed concern that it would be viewed as a "great debacle in the history books," prompting the creation of the report to protect Cuomo's legacy.
The memo highlights how Cuomo's top aides, including Melissa DeRosa and Linda Lacewell, along with hospital executives, were involved in crafting the report despite lacking scientific expertise. Notably, executive chamber officials removed out-of-facility deaths from the nursing home death totals, artificially lowering the reported death count.
When questioned about the discrepancy in reported deaths during his testimony, Cuomo downplayed its significance, stating:
No, but I don't know how to express — let's say there's a 3,000 differential, 2,500. Who cares? What difference does it make in any dimension to anyone about anything? Do you know what I'm saying?
Former NYSDOH officials testified that the report was rushed and bypassed the usual peer-review process. This hasty approach, coupled with the involvement of non-scientific personnel in its creation, has raised questions about the report's credibility and the motivations behind its rapid production.
Dr. Howard Zucker, former NYSDOH commissioner, and Brad Hutton, deputy commissioner, both testified that Cuomo's executive chamber would have approved the nursing home directive. This testimony further implicates the former governor's office in the controversial policy decision.
In conclusion, the congressional panel's memo has brought to light significant evidence of the Cuomo administration's efforts to manipulate data and public perception regarding Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes. The former governor's direct involvement in editing the July 2020 report, the controversial March 2020 directive, and the artificial lowering of death counts paint a picture of a concerted effort to downplay the pandemic's impact on New York's most vulnerable population.
