The government of New York has been working hard to stem the tide of coronavirus, but they have made a critical, life-threatening error. The state has MANDATED that COVID-19 positive patients be admitted into nursing homes currently free of the virus, putting countless vulnerable residents at risk.

The elderly are among the most vulnerable to dying of this terrible disease. In nursing homes like Kirkland, outbreaks have had massive casualties. The majority of nursing homes are not equipped to deal with outbreaks of this magnitude or severity, and their best hope of protecting their residents is to keep COVID-19 positive patients out of their facilities.

Many of us have parents and grandparents living in these facilities, and want to ensure that our loved ones are protected, while also making sure that those who are sick get proper care. Experts in the field of geriatrics and post acute/long term care have been working hard to protect these seniors, but in New York, it is currently a losing battle. Please join the fight to protect our parents and grandparents by demanding that the government listen to the experts and:

1. Allow nursing home medical staff to use their best clinical judgment in allowing and disallowing admissions to their facilities during this crisis.
2. Create COVID-19 positive nursing homes for residents who have been diagnosed with the disease, and ensure the nursing home staff are adequately trained to deal with seniors fighting and recovering from COVID-19.
3. Ensure that the staff in COVID-19 positive nursing homes do not simultaneously work in facilities that are free of the virus, in order to reduce the risk of accidental infection.