Cuomo Requiring Nursing Home Workers to Be Tested for the Coronavirus Twice a Week

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is taking the steps to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on one of the hardest-hit industries, nursing homes.

Cuomo is ordering nursing home workers to be tested for the coronavirus biweekly.

“NEW: All nursing home staff must now be tested for COVID twice a week,” Cuomo wrote. “This rule is not optional — it’s mandatory.”

Cuomo announced there will be consequences for nursing homes if they do not follow the protocol.

“Any nursing home that fails to follow health procedures will lose their license,” Cuomo said.

He added, “Remember: If a nursing home cannot provide adequate care, they MUST call the State Department of Health to transfer the resident.”

New York has become the epicenter of the 🦠Coronavirus Outbreak. As of Sunday afternoon, there are nearly 341,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York alone and nearly 27,000 deaths.

Cuomo has implemented other measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus across the state.

He recently made the decision to suspend 24-hour subway services for disinfecting, as IJR previously reported.

A little over a week ago, Cuomo announced K-12 schools and college facilities will be closed for the rest of the academic year, as IJR previously reported.

Cuomo also moved to to extend a statewide moratorium on evictions until August 20.

According to leading health official and member of the White House coronavirus task force Dr. Deborah Birx, changes are still being made to guidelines issued by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for reopening.

The guidelines were originally designed to provide tools to leaders so they could reopen on the local level. It also included additional guidelines for practicing social distancing.

As of Sunday afternoon, there are more than 1,000,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States and over 79,000 deaths.