A state senator from Queens is seeking a special hearing of the Legislature on the coronovirus nursing home scandal, which has separated the government’s Andrew Andrew Como from a federal investigation.
Despite allegations that the administration covered the reporting of deaths in COVID-19 nursing homes, Sen. Leroy Comrie wants answers about the allegations that COVID-19 positive residents were found in a veteran home in their southeast Queens district Experimental drug cocktails of consent were given.
“We need to be truthful. Mistakes were made clearly. We want full disclosure on what happened from A to Z.
“I am personally insisting for the Legislature to be heard in the nursing home mess, it is a mess. No doubt We need to drill down to find out what happened so it does not happen again. “
Comrie said that the COVID-19 nursing home scam is a full-blown crisis that has shaken public confidence.
He said that many constituents in his district told him that they would not send their loved ones to nursing homes for revelations that for months the Cuomo administration deliberately prevented the full toll of residents dying of the virus.
The FBI and the Brooklyn US Attorney’s Office have launched an investigation into Cuomo’s COVID-19 task force – reportedly after revelations of the post’s personal comments by Secretary Melissa Derasa.
During a virtual meeting with Democratic lawmakers on February 10, DeRosa said Cuomo’s team stopped him and the total number of nursing home residents killed by COVID-19 due to pending investigations by the Department of Justice, concerns data was. Be used against us “and” we freeze. ”
The next day he said that the administration was cooperating in providing information to the players – though not to the legalists or the public.
State Attorney General Leticia James has released a more detailed and accurate count of COVID-19 deaths, including those living in nursing homes, after state officials estimated a mortality rate below 50 percent. Has died
Cuomo officials were only releasing the number of nursing home residents dying inside long-term care facilities – but excluding thousands of infected residents dying in hospitals.
Earlier this month, a judge ordered Cuomo and his health department to issue a full death count, ruling that he refused a legal request for data filed by the Empire Center for Public Policy for information.
More than 13,600 nursing home residents were killed by COVID-19, data showed – just a few weeks before the Cuomo administration reported more than 5,000 reported deaths when living in other long-term care and assisted living facilities 15,000 people, including residents, die. , According to the updated state data.
Comey called the residents of the nursing home “the people who make up our lives on earth”, who should be treated with respect and respect.
“We have to restore trust and integrity in nursing homes. We have to restore trust in our health care system.
“We have to ensure that the residents are not exploited or exploited. We must make adequate security arrangements before the next crisis.
He is particularly emboldened about the alleged treatment of residents at the state-run St. Albans Veterans Home. More than 60 residents were given experimental drug cocktails of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin without consent from patients or doctors – Their loved ones told News Site City.
“We need to get the truth. The governor should lead the charge. I do not understand why she is not doing all that to restore confidence in nursing homes, especially veterans’ homes, ”said Komri.
“The governor should ensure that people have confidence in the safety of nursing homes. The Governor needs to come out with a clear voice. “
Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens), who accused Cuomo of threatening to destroy his political career in a heated personal phone call about the scandal – claims the governor has denied – of legislative hearings For Comey’s support, especially about drugs in veterans’ homes.
“Good. I agree with him 100%. The DOH says they did not know but we cannot trust them at this point.
State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker is scheduled to testify during a legislative budget hearing on Thursday.
In a statement on Sunday, a spokesman for the state Department of Health asserted that “the allegation that the Health Department participated in a hydroxychloroquine experiment with residents at Veterans Homes in New York State is simply not true.”
“Residents of any elderly household were never part of any state-supported study of this drug. It was used only as a treatment, not as part of the experiment, in the early days of this epidemic when people were dying, no other therapy was present, and hydroxychloroquine seemed like the only hope, “Said Rarey Holmes.
“Patient confidentiality prevents us from commenting about specific cases, but it was the practice of Veterans’ Homes to discuss the use of therapy with patients who were mentally competent, or those who had their designated health care proxy Or legal inquiries. New York State Veterans Homes had already stopped using this treatment for COVID-19 before the Emergency Use Authority was revoked in June 2020. “
Hydroxychloroquine, which has been used to treat malaria, soon showed promise in helping sick patients with coronaviruses. But the Food and Drug Administration later warned against prescribing the drug for COVID-19 outside hospitals or clinical trials because of the risk of serious side effects such as heart rhythm problems and death.
A study published last month of 368 male veterans with coronaviruses found that 28 percent were given hydroxychloroquine and died in general health care – compared to 11 percent who received only regular care.
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