Assemblyman Brian Manktelow (R,C,I-Lyons) is calling for the Legislature to stand with him in stripping Gov. Cuomo of his emergency powers given the recent release of a report by New York Attorney General Letitia James which stated the Department of Health underreported COVID-19 related deaths in nursing homes by up to 50 percent. Additionally, it was discovered that some nursing homes were not following proper infection-control protocols, which put both residents and staff at risk. For months, the Assembly Minority Conference has been calling for a thorough investigation. Today’s report shows why.

“It is downright despicable for the governor to have allowed for the underreporting of the deaths due to COVID-19 in nursing homes,” said Manktelow. “These are people’s family, friends and loved ones, they deserve to know what has really been going on. He has also allowed nursing homes to continue to skirt infection control protocols. Given that the elderly are one of the most vulnerable portions of our population, this is completely unacceptable and must be addressed immediately. Especially as COVID-19 numbers are back on the rise, we do not need a repeat of what happened last year.”

“You can’t fix a mistake by making another. It was a mistake by the governor directing nursing homes to take COVID-19 positive patients, and it would be a mistake for him to retain his emergency powers. We need to return power to the Legislature,” said Manktelow.