Sen. Kelly calls on Gov. Lamont to reverse policy sending COVID-positive admissions to nursing homes

Kelly: “This policy is wrong for our seniors and their loved ones. I’m calling on the Governor to reverse it immediately.”

HARTFORD – Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford), ranking member of the General Assembly’s Aging Committee, released the following statement in response to the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s guidance sending COVID-positive admissions from hospitals to nursing homes.

“This decision could potentially put lives at risk. It is alarming that the Governor has not learned from Connecticut’s past experience when it comes to keeping nursing home residents safe. Given the gravity of the situation and its potential consequences, we must explore all other avenues including recovery centers before pursuing a path that could open the door to COVID-19 tearing its way through our nursing homes again. The voices of our most vulnerable residents and their loved ones are not being heard. The Mathematica report on Connecticut’s handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes in the early days of the pandemic was an indictment of the administration’s policies. We need to learn from that report, as well as what happened in other states like New York when Governor Cuomo gave the same order, and the real experiences nursing home residents endured. Breakthrough cases with the latest variants are real concerns for even those vaccinated particularly those who are frail, compromised, and vulnerable in nursing homes. This policy is wrong for our seniors and their loved ones. I’m calling on the Governor to reverse it immediately.”