Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) issued the following statement:                                                                                

"The report issued by the Attorney General sheds a disturbing light on the true number of COVID-19 deaths in New York nursing homes.  It illustrates the lack of transparency by the governor's office and the administration's failure to adequately protect our most vulnerable residents.            

The policies and procedures put in place at nursing homes...from the deadly March 25, 2020 order to send COVID-positive patients into these facilities, to the harsh restrictions on family visitation...have caused great hardship and suffering.  It is time to end the governor's unilateral control of the state's pandemic response and return to our system of checks and balances in state government."