Cuomo Announces New Measures To Protect Nursing Home Residents

NEW YORK— As New York State continues to track a decline of new coronavirus cases, hospitalization and deaths, Gov. Cuomo announced new measures to protect seniors and nursing home residents on Sunday.

"The most vulnerable population deserves the highest level of care," Cuomo said in his Sunday news conference.

The new measures require nursing homes to transfer residents if they are not capable of providing proper care, including meeting staffing and protective equipment requirements.

Nursing home staff must also be tested twice a week for COVID-19. Hospitals cannot discharge patients to a nursing home until they test negative. Penalties for not complying could include losing operating licenses, Cuomo cautioned.

The governor said that the surge capacity of beds and facilities that were created early in the pandemic will not be reduced in the foreseeable future, and can be used to meet this new mandate.

New York State continues to investigate the multi-system inflammatory condition in children that may be linked to COVID-19, Cuomo said, with two more deaths in New York State under investigation. Currently, 85 pediatric cases of the Kawasaki disease-like illness are being looked at.

May 15 was the original expiration date of the "PAUSE" shutdown, but reopening will be determined regionally. Further details about extending the shutdown are expected this week.

According to the state Department of Health, there were 207 new deaths since Saturday and 521 new cases, both down from Saturday's tallies. Gov. Cuomo said that the rates are now comparable to early March when New York State began "PAUSE."

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