ALBANY, N.Y. — The Cuomo administration undercounted COVID deaths in nursing homes by at least 4,100 as the pandemic raged across the Empire State, according to an audit released by Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli on Tuesday.
The audit details how health officials undercounted deaths in nursing homes by more than 50% at certain points during the height of the pandemic, echoing similar findings reported by Attorney General Letitia James’ office last year.
Auditors also found that officials were ill-prepared for such a deadly outbreak in elder care facilities and that the Department of Health intentionally obfuscated information about fatalities as former Gov. Andrew Cuomo sought to control what was made public.
