“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin praised New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s response to the coronavirus, saying it was “fair” in the early stages of the pandemic.
“I think people in New York took it very seriously,” he said, “because we were the epicenter.”
Hostin’s comments came amid widespread criticism of Cuomo’s requirement that New York nursing homes accept patients who tested positive for coronavirus, something many said was the cause of many deaths among the elderly.
The New York government recently released a report on the matter that generated significant backlash as it did not find a strong link between the order of Cuomo’s nursing homes and some of the deadliest nursing home outbreaks in the country.
CUOMO RAISES HEAT ON THE INTERNAL REPORT ON NURSING AT HOME
The report says the rampant spread of the virus in New York’s nursing homes was fueled by the 37,500 nursing home workers who became infected between mid-March and early June and unknowingly transmitted the virus.
He also said that 80 percent of the 310 nursing homes that admitted coronavirus patients already had a confirmed or suspected case among their residents or staff before the directive was issued.
Several experts question the study, including a University of Texas epidemiologist Catherine Troisi, who told the Associated Press: “Would this be published in an academic journal? No.”
Cuomo also faced a backlash this week over a poster he promoted promoting the state’s coronavirus response.
GOV CUOMO CRUSHED ONLINE BY THE SALE OF POSTERS THAT LAUNCH THE RESPONSE TO NEW YORK COVIDS
The report came when Cuomo said schools could start reopening in his state. However, he cautioned that New York “would not use our children as litmus test” or “guinea pigs.”
Co-host Joy Behar suggested that schools should add another year to the end of the K-12 timeline to make up for time lost during the virus.
President Trump’s administration has been adamant about reopening schools and threatened to revoke funds for schools that did not open on time.
CLICK HERE TO GET FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
“In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITHOUT PROBLEMS,” he tweeted last week.
“Democrats think it would be politically bad for them if US schools open before the November election, but it is important for children and families. They can cut funds if they don’t open!”
Associated Press contributed to this report.
