Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s surprise bid for New York City mayor has reignited scrutiny over his administration’s handling of nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current NYC Mayor Eric Adams, addressing reporters on Monday, stated that Cuomo must “answer” for his decisions regarding nursing home deaths, but stopped short of saying it should disqualify him from the race.
“I’ve met with some of the nursing home family members and advocates. There’s some things that we want to do with them. But he has to answer that question on the trail,” Adams said when asked about the undercounting of COVID-related nursing home deaths during Cuomo’s tenure. “Should that be an automatic disqualification? No, I think it needs to be answered on the trail, exactly what happened. And I think some of those family members are going to be looking forward to that.”
The Controversy Over Nursing Home Deaths
Cuomo’s administration faced intense criticism for a March 2020 directive that barred nursing homes from refusing patients recovering from COVID-19. This policy resulted in over 9,000 patients being transferred from hospitals to nursing homes—an action critics claim exacerbated outbreaks among vulnerable residents.
A 2022 report from the New York State Comptroller found that Cuomo’s Health Department “was not transparent in its reporting of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes,” and that the number of deaths in these facilities was understated by as much as 50% at certain points in the pandemic. Further investigations revealed that official death tolls omitted residents who died in hospitals, making the true impact of the policy difficult to assess.
Political Fallout and Cuomo’s Response
Cuomo, who resigned from office in August 2021 following unrelated sexual harassment allegations, has consistently denied wrongdoing in both cases. His spokespersons have defended his administration’s pandemic response, arguing that policies were based on the best scientific understanding available at the time.
Meanwhile, a report commissioned by Cuomo’s successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, acknowledged that nursing home policies were “rushed and uncoordinated,” but stated they were made in response to rapidly evolving information about the virus.
Implications for the Mayoral Race
Cuomo’s entry into the mayoral race has already drawn mixed reactions from Democratic leaders. Rep. Richie Torres (D-NY) has endorsed Cuomo over Adams, signaling a split in party support. However, nursing home advocates and families who lost loved ones during the pandemic are expected to challenge Cuomo on the campaign trail, demanding answers about the state’s handling of long-term care facilities.
Public opinion remains divided. According to a 2023 Siena College poll, 47% of New York voters believed Cuomo mishandled the nursing home crisis, while 41% felt he did the best he could under unprecedented circumstances.
With the mayoral election approaching, Cuomo’s handling of nursing homes will likely remain a focal point. Whether voters see it as a disqualifying issue or a forgivable misstep could determine the trajectory of his political comeback.