The Cuomo administration has ordered nursing homes across the state to increase coronavirus testing on all employees twice a week amid an outbreak of the killer error at numerous facilities.
The State Department of Health issued the edict to double the tests of COVID-19 staff from weekly to semi-annual in a letter sent Thursday to 615 nursing homes, a copy of which was obtained by The Post.
“In view of the continued and sustained spread of the COVID-19 community in all regions of the state, Commissioner [Howard Zucker] directs nursing homes to increase the frequency of staff testing, as an essential measure to protect residents and ensure prompt and adequate care for staff, ”said the director of DOH nursing homes, Sheila McGarvey, in the letter.
“Operators and administrators of all nursing homes are required to test or organize testing of all staff, including all employees, contract staff, medical staff, operators and administrators, for COVID-19 twice a week. in all nursing homes “.
The state’s call for additional tests was also discussed at a DOH conference call with nursing home operators.
“We were told there were active outbreaks in nursing homes,” said James Clyne, president of Leading Age New York, a advocacy group representing 200 nonprofit nursing homes.
The outbreaks are not as severe or widespread in nursing homes as last spring, when Governor Andrew Cuomo said the coronavirus spread like “dry grass fire” and killed thousands of fragile elderly residents.
However, the occurrence of cases in nursing homes is worrisome. The state has restricted visits to nursing homes, and yet cases of COVID-19 continue to appear, raising questions about how the deadly virus is transmitted.
More than 7,000 residents have died in residences, according to the Department of Health. But that figure doesn’t include nursing home residents who were sick and died in hospitals, which critics of the state count said could double the bill.
Cuomo and the Department of Health have been sued after being accused of fully disclosing fatalities in nursing homes under the Freedom of Information Act. The case is pending and state officials say they are complying with the law.
The administration has also received a storm of criticism for a controversial policy, since it was terminated, which has led nursing homes to readmit the recovery of COVID-19 from hospitals without being tested. Critics claimed the policy accelerated the spread of the virus to homes, while Cuomo and health officials blasted the outbreaks at staff unaware they were infected.
The state previously ordered nursing homes to perform coronavirus testing twice a week on staff when the pandemic hit New York in mid-2020. But the requirement was shifted to weekly testing in June after the fall. of infections, except for nursing homes located in micro-cluster areas where there was an increase in cases.
The order gives seven days to nursing homes to comply with the order, or face fines or suspension or revocation of licenses. Nursing home operators have complained that the state has been happy to issue fines for minor delays in reporting in the midst of the pandemic.
“Please note that any nursing home that does not comply with this directive may be subject to a penalty of $ 2,000 per day infraction and $ 10,000 per day infraction for any subsequent infraction. In addition, the Department may suspend or revoke this certificate of operation of the facilities and a receiver designated to continue operations with 24 hours notice.
Health officials said they will distribute half of the weekly tests to nursing homes to help them comply with the half-yearly directive. DOH will distribute Abbott Laboratories ’Binax NOW antigen rapid test to nursing homes, which will be used as a second weekly test to all employees.
DOH spokesman Gary Holmes said 586,000 of Abbott’s quick tests will be sent to 600 nursing homes. Federal funds will be used to cover costs.
The Department of Health convenes up to 50 nursing homes a day for information on the rate of COVID infection.
“We are seeing an increase in community outreach in every corner of the state and this has resulted in an increase in these facilities,” Holmes said.