etichy@post-journal.com
The report released Thursday by New York’s attorney general has further highlighted the difficulties in accurately documenting and reporting COVID-related deaths involving nursing homes — especially for county health departments that are not always notified of such fatalities in the first place.
The investigation by Letitia James’ office takes aim at the state Health Department’s method in which virus deaths in nursing homes and adult care facilities are reported. The deaths, released daily by the state Health Department, do not reflect those moved to hospitals and who later die there. James’ report found that there were a larger number of nursing home residents who died from COVID-19 than indicated by the state.