Hochul Administration Acknowledges 12,000 More COVID Deaths In N.Y. Than Cuomo Admin Publicized – CBS New York

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – In simply her second day on the job, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is acknowledging almost 12,000 extra deaths from COVID-19 than had been beforehand reported.

New York state is now saying 55,395 individuals have died of COVID-19.

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That’s primarily based on loss of life certificates knowledge submitted to the CDC.

That’s up from roughly 43,400 reported by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo on his final day in workplace.

The brand new complete comes after studies in regards to the Cuomo administration’s use of a a lot stricter definition of COVID-19 deaths than different states.

Watch Marcia Kramer’s report —

As CBS2’s Marcia Kramer studies, Hochul didn’t waste any time in proving she intends to be the un-Cuomo.

However in releasing new info on COVID deaths, she acquired a two-fer: Reward for transparency, and an opportunity to tarnish his picture as a fact teller.

“We’re now releasing extra knowledge than had been launched earlier than publicly, so individuals will know the nursing house deaths and the hospital deaths are according to what’s being displayed by the CDC,” Hochul stated.

Tuesday, Hochul stated her administration could be extra clear, and Wednesday, she began delivering, acknowledging that there have been 12,000 extra COVID deaths right here in New York throughout the pandemic than reported by Cuomo.

A press launch put out by Cuomo two days in the past, on his final day in workplace, put the full deaths at 43,404.

“There’s simply numerous issues that weren’t occurring, and I’m going to make them occur. Transparency would be the hallmark of my administration,” Hochul stated.

Response to the governor’s transfer was swift. Many claimed that Cuomo hid COVID loss of life numbers to boost his popularity.

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“It’s fairly apparent that whenever you’re operating across the nation, pretending to be the king of COVID, that downplaying the numbers helps that trigger. We additionally know that Andrew Cuomo is a manipulator, and somebody who had no qualms about misrepresenting info,” stated St. Sen. Michael Gianaris.

Assemblyman Ron Kim, a dogged critic of Cuomo for underreporting nursing house deaths, stated he thinks the governor did it to get a profitable guide deal.

“For those who’re chasing after a $5.1 million guide contract, but when the numbers don’t look good, and also you’re now seen as somebody who can’t handle nursing house deaths and fatalities in your state, he won’t have gotten the profitable deal that he acquired,” Kim stated.

When requested if he believed Hochul was sending a message, former governor David Paterson advised CBS2’s Dick Brennan, “I believe she did greater than ship a message. In 24 hours, she has modified the tradition in Albany already.”

“She let or not it’s identified that she is gonna put a cease to the entire shenanigans which were happening,” Paterson added.

A Cuomo spokesman defended the choice to launch decrease numbers, declaring that the governor decided to launch totals just for deaths verified by lab studies. That quantity didn’t embody individuals who died at house, in prisons, and at hospice facilities.

“If the brand new administration desires to make coverage modifications, that’s their proper,” the spokesman stated.

“These are presumed deaths and confirmed deaths. Folks ought to know each,” Hochul stated. “The general public deserves a transparent, trustworthy image of what’s occurring, whether or not it’s good or unhealthy. They should know the reality, and that’s how we restore confidence.”

“That’s what I’ve carried out for 27 years of elective workplace. It’s not a brand new idea to me,” she added.

Hochul’s transfer has opened up the floodgates. Kim and others are demanding she reply to requests for COVID info filed underneath the liberty of knowledge legislation.

Kim additionally desires her to fireplace Well being Commissioner Howard Zucker.

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CBS2’s Dick Brennan contributed to this report. Editor’s word: This story first appeared on August 25.