Judge orders release of NY data on long-term care deaths

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A state judge has ordered New York’s Department of Health to release records about nursing home residents who died of COVID-19.

The judge on Wednesday said the agency’s failure to do so already was a “violation” of New York’s open government law.

The Department of Health had argued that it needed months to compile records about long-term care residents who died at hospitals.

But the judge noted nursing homes have to file daily reports of all residents who die from COVID-19, regardless of where they died.

The judge ordered the Department of Health to release the information within five business days.

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