Statement from Senator John Mannion on Attorney General's Report on Nursing Home Deaths from COVID-19

GEDDES – Senator John W. Mannion (D-Geddes) today released the following statement on Attorney General Letitia James’ report regarding nursing home deaths related to COVID-19:

It has been clear for months that more transparency is required from the Department of Health and the Governor’s Office regarding the terrible toll that the pandemic has inflicted on nursing home residents.

According to the Attorney General, the true number of lives lost in these facilities is likely many thousands more than has been reported. That is unacceptable.

The report generates many new questions. The need for truthful answers backed by science and data has never been more important.

Whether it was state mandated policies or failures at the nursing homes themselves – or a combination of both - families deserve answers. The legislature has a big role to play in understanding what has occurred.

While we can never return a loved one to their family, we can learn from this and do better moving forward.

Politics should have no place in responding to the pandemic or protecting our citizens.

I commend Attorney General James and her staff for this thoughtful but very troubling report.

# # #