Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C,I-Ballston) joined Assemblywoman Missy Miller (R,C,I-Atlantic Beach) on a press conference today regarding COVID-19 quarantine protocols in group homes. They were joined by other lawmakers, the New York Alliance for Developmental Disabilities (NYADD) and family members who have loved ones in group homes.

Staff who work in group homes are not required to take rapid COVID-19 tests before entering group home facilities, which has led to multiple outbreaks of the virus in these facilities. Each time a case is reported, all residents in the group home are forced to quarantine for two weeks, even if they’ve received the COVID-19 vaccine. As a result, family members have been unable to visit their loved ones in group home facilities due to continued outbreaks and rolling quarantines.

“It is devastating that many individuals living in group homes are unable to grasp why their loved ones have seemingly abandoned them for the past year,” said Walsh. “For far too long this population has hovered near the bottom of the state’s long list of priorities. They were continuously an afterthought throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative that the protocols and guidance be updated, similarly to that which has been done in nursing home facilities, so that these residents and their families have the opportunity to be safely reunited, without the current obstacles in place.

“Thanks to Assemblywoman Miller for giving these family members and advocates a platform to share their stories. As always, I will continue to fight on behalf of the needs of differently abled New Yorkers and the programs that provide necessary support to them.