“Today’s release of New York’s official death toll gives a far more accurate depiction of how this pandemic affected our communities. These new figures include those who died at home, hospice, in state prisons or at state-run homes for people living with disabilities, nursing homes, and more. The revised count brings the total number of deaths from this devastating pandemic to over 55,000 and brings New York in line with federal reporting.

The open publication and acknowledgement of this data serves as a solemn reminder of those lost to the ongoing pandemic and represents a needed transition to a more transparent state government. While there’s still much work to be done to help our communities recover from the pandemic, this long-overdue disclosure will help craft better policies and prepare for future emergencies.”