Former Gov. George Pataki slammed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s nursing household procedures throughout the coronavirus pandemic as a “disaster” that may well have unnecessarily induced the fatalities of “thousands” of susceptible aged citizens.
In a rare swipe at his successor Friday night, Pataki called for an unbiased probe “so this hardly ever happens all over again.”
Pataki said the condition Well being Division really should hardly ever have issued an edict requiring nursing residences to acknowledge coronavirus virus patients into nursing dwelling amenities crammed with ill, elderly individuals — the inhabitants most at danger from the killer COVID-19 bug.
Compounding the misguided coverage, Pataki stated, is that the nursing properties lacked the individual protective equipment or tests capacity to isolate and have the spread of COVID-19.
Pataki also claimed he was dumbfounded as to why infected individuals had been sent to nursing properties as a substitute of “hundreds of unused beds” at the two momentary hospitals at the Javits Centre and the Navy’s USNS Comfort and ease healthcare facility ship.
EMTs leaving the New East Aspect Nursing House on the LES soon after responding to a affected person with fever/cough signs and symptoms.William Farrington
“Gov. Cuomo’s dealing with of the nursing residences has been a disaster,” Pataki, the former-three expression governor, explained to The Write-up.
“Thousands of people life may well not have been shed besides for these tragic policies.”
Pataki, a Republican who served amongst 1995 and 2006 claimed, “Everybody knew that the most susceptible inhabitants was senior citizens. And the most vulnerable senior citizens are in nursing houses.”
Pataki mentioned the nursing properties did not have sufficient individual protecting devices to guard their current staff members and sufferers.
“To compound the trouble, the point out essential nursing properties to confess coronavirus sufferers. Any person must have recognised this would be a dilemma — to demand nursing houses to choose in coronavirus people,” he claimed.
He also rapped Cuomo for expressing “it’s not our job” to deliver masks and gowns to nursing residences, though point out officials had been doing so.
“It is the executive’s work,” Pataki said.
Coronavirus has been permitted to run roughshod through nursing residences and rehabilitation facilities statewide.Richard Harbus
Pataki also explained the nursing houses did not have or have been not offered with the screening necessary to ascertain which sufferers or staff members experienced the virus.
He also cited a Post report that discovered the state Wellness Office permitted nurses and other employees who examined constructive for the coronavirus to keep on treating COVID-19 clients at an upstate nursing residence. Subsequent the report, the section explained it implemented a new policy proscribing COVID-good staff from returning to perform for 14 times.
“Any way you appear at it …This is inexcusable. There is no protection for this,” Pataki explained of the policies.
He described Cuomo has develop into 1 of the “most well-known politicians in America” due to the fact of his press briefings on COVID-19.
Even now, “it’s not about the physical appearance but the function of the office,” Pataki explained. “The buck stops with the executive office.”
Pataki later on went on Fox News and referred to as Cuomo’s procedures “incomprehensible” and a “disgrace.”
Cuomo’s senior adviser Wealthy Azzopardi returned fireplace, contacting Pataki’s attacks a “sad, sad bid for relevancy.”
“It is unfortunate and unlucky that his star has fallen so much that he’s inclined to go on Television and misrepresent the condition plan,” which is dependent on US Centers for Illness Handle rules, Azzopardi stated.
Azzopardi reiterated prior statements from the governor that the nursing residences can only take coronavirus individuals if they have a safe and sound facility with suitable staffing and protective gear.
Cuomo officials also parried prevalent complaints of insufficient PPE, expressing the state delivered 2 million parts of protective equipment to nursing households.
He also reported federal coverage limited sufferers sent to the Convenience clinic.
“George Pataki does not know what he’s conversing about. He has not had a clue in 20 yrs,” Azzopardi said.
Cuomo and Pataki have a sophisticated romance.
Pataki defeated previous a few-term governor Mario Cuomo — Andrew’s father — to grow to be the state’s chief govt, in 1994.
Andrew Cuomo came below hearth through his to start with bid for governor in 2002, when he claimed then-Gov. Pataki would just “hold the coat” of previous Mayor Rudy Giuliani in terms of leadership subsequent the Sept. 11 attacks. He later on deserted his campaign prior to the Democratic main.
But when Cuomo did get the governorship almost a decade afterwards, he appointed Pataki to provide and co-chair on a panel that recommended tax cuts. Pataki has normally refrained from next-guessing Cuomo’s actions.
