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White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Friday avoided a question of whether President Biden trusted New York Governor Andrew Cuomo amid controversy over underreported nursing home deaths COVID-19 in the state.
Psaki was asked if the president had confidence in Cuomo, after Biden hosted a group of bipartisan governors and mayors at the White House on Friday to discuss coronavirus response efforts.
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“The president welcomed Governor Cuomo and a bipartisan group of governors and mayors today to get their views from the front lines – not to give anyone a stamp of approval or to seek their approval, and to discuss the urgency of passing the bailout, “said Psaki, adding that the president” is committed to working with governors and mayors. “
“Governor Cuomo is the governor of one of the largest states in the country – one of the places where the pandemic has hit the hardest, the earliest,” Psaki said. “Many Americans continue to struggle to get their shots and make ends meet, so it was important to have her as part of the meeting.”
Biden, in the past, had praised Cuomo’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic in New York, claiming last year that the governor’s daily briefings were “a lesson in leadership,” and praising him as having done “an incredible job. “.
On the “Tonight Show” last April, Biden said Cuomo was “sort of the gold standard.”
Psaki’s comments come as Cuomo has come under control over his handling of the pandemic.
Last month, New York Attorney General Letitia James said deaths from COVID-19 in nursing homes across the state were underestimated by 50%. And things got worse on Thursday after a report that a senior Cuomo aide told top Democratic lawmakers in the state that the administration withheld data on COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. to avoid federal review.
But last year, Cuomo ordered state nursing homes to accept patients who had or were suspected of having COVID-19. The decision created an attack of COVID-19 cases that have infected thousands of elderly patients and resulted in hundreds of deaths among the state’s most vulnerable population.
James said a new report found that as of January 27, 2021, there were 5,597 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in nursing homes and 2,783 additional suspected deaths. In assisted care facilities, there were 160 deaths and 52 presumed deaths.
James’ report said government guidelines requiring the admission of COVID-19 patients to nursing homes may have put residents at increased risk of harm in some facilities and clouded the data available to assess. this risk.
Cuomo, responding to reporters’ questions last month after the release of the nursing home death report, defended himself and said, “Everyone did their best.”
During the press conference, Cuomo said the state was following federal guidelines. “If you think there was a mistake, then go talk to the federal government,” he said. “It’s not about pointing fingers or blaming, it’s become political football.”
Cuomo defended the nursing home policy as being within the guidelines of the Trump administration at the time.
James’ report said government guidelines requiring the admission of COVID-19 patients to nursing homes may have put residents at increased risk of harm in some facilities and clouded the data available to assess. this risk.
The Attorney General’s Office (OAG) has asked 62 nursing homes to provide data on deaths in their facilities.
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The report, which revealed the findings of an investigation into allegations of patient neglect and other “worrying behaviors” that put the health and safety of patients and employees at risk, said some facilities had failed. not followed health protocols to stop the spread of the virus. .
Nursing homes that had low staffing ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services were found to have higher COVID-19 death rates.
In addition, the lack of sufficient personal protective equipment for staff, as well as the low availability of tests, could also have increased the risk of contracting the virus for patients, according to the report.
About 70% of the nearly 35,000 deaths from COVID in New York City were people aged 70 and older, according to state data as of January 28.
Investigations of more than 20 nursing homes whose reported conduct during the first wave of the pandemic was of particular concern are still ongoing, James added.
“As the pandemic and our investigations continue, it is imperative that we understand why residents of nursing homes in New York City have suffered needlessly at such an alarming rate,” James said in a statement. “While we cannot bring back the people we have lost in this crisis, this report seeks to provide the transparency the public deserves and spur increased action to protect our most vulnerable residents.”
Meanwhile, Psaki was asked last month whether the White House would support a federal investigation into the matter.
“Any investigation would be carried out by the justice ministry,” Psaki said.
In a glance at the Trump administration, Psaki, during his press conference, added, “We are in a new era where they are independent and will determine what steps to take moving forward.”
Peter Doocy and The Associated Press of Fox News contributed to this report.
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