The data, which must be provided to the DOJ no later than September 9, will be used to determine whether the DOJ will open investigations under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which protects the civil rights of persons in state-run nursing homes.

Four states—New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan—"required nursing homes to admit COVID-19 patients to their vulnerable populations, often without adequate testing," according to a statement from the DOJ.  

"Protecting the rights of some of society's most vulnerable members, including elderly nursing home residents, is one of our country's most important obligations," said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband. "We must ensure they are adequately cared for with dignity and respect and not unnecessarily put at risk."

The DOJ directed particular attention to Governor Andrew Cuomo's March 25, 2020 executive order which prohibited nursing homes from denying admission to coronavirus-positive patients.

"No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to [a nursing home] solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19," said Cuomo's directive. "[Nursing homes] are prohibited from requiring a hospitalized resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission."

With over 32,500 victims, New York state has had by far the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). New Jersey has had 15,000.

While New York's official count of COVID-19 related deaths in nursing homes stands at about 6,600, the number could be much higher, according to a recent Associated Press (AP) report... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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