Another 1,700 virus deaths reported in NY nursing homes

Wantagh's Francine Solomon says New York dropped the ball in terms of protecting vulnerable residents like her 93-year-old mother-in-law Iris. The family believes she died from the coronavirus even though testing was never done.

News 12 Staff

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May 5, 2020, 9:12 PM

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Updated 1,697 days ago

New York has reported more than 1,700 previously undisclosed deaths at nursing homes and adult care facilities.

Wantagh's Francine Solomon says New York dropped the ball in terms of protecting vulnerable residents like her 93-year-old mother-in-law Iris. The family believes she died from the coronavirus even though testing was never done.

"They said to me they're treating everything like it's COVID," says Solomon. "So they had no testing -- no proof. They couldn't say yes and they couldn't say no on their findings because they had no findings."

COVID-19 preys on vulnerable residents of nursing, group homes on LI

According to new numbers released Tuesday, more than 4,800 people have died from the virus in nursing homes and adult care facilities since March 1. That's more than 1,700 more than originally disclosed.

There have been more than 450 COVID-19 deaths in Nassau nursing homes and nearly 600 in Suffolk. In adult care facilities, there have been 27 deaths in Nassau and 38 in Suffolk.

New York, attorney general launch investigation into how nursing homes handle COVID-19

Richard Mollot, executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition, says more steps could have been and still should be taken.

"We're calling on the state to implement a strike force team in facilities where there are problems either directly related to COVID, or what we're seeing is just neglect," says Mollot.

The New York State Health Facilities Association says facilities are working closely with the state to identify areas that need improvement.