Testimony on COVID-19 in Residential Care Facilities

COVID-19 has raged through residential health care facilities and other congregate care facilities in New York State and continues to rage through residential health care facilities and other congregate care facilities across the country. More than 40 percent of deaths from the virus in the United States have been tied to residential health care facilities and other long-term care facilities. The NYCLU has long taken the position that segregated institutions are dangerous and unhealthy for both residents and staff, and the pandemic’s impact on residential health care facilities reaffirms this stance.

New York State must take steps to protect and support both residents and workers in residential health care facilities and other congregate care facilities for older adults and people with disabilities.