FL lawmakers demand governor be more transparent about COVID -19 in nursing homes

Following media reports calling out the state for not disclosing which nursing homes have cases of COVID19, two Democratic lawmakers are calling for more transparency.

NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTEDLIVING FACILIES ARE DEALINGWITH OUTBREAKS OF COVID-19.THE ACTION FOLLOWS DOZENS OFCRITICAL REPORTS INCLUDING OUROWN... ABOUT THE STATE'S LACKOF TRANSPARENCY IN RELEASINGTHESE DETAILS.

CONTACT 5INVESTIGATOR KATIE LAGRONEEXPLAINS WHY THE PUSH ... ANDHOW THE LONG CARE INDUSTRY ISPUSHING BACK.<<SENATOR FARMER 3:10- THELACK OF TRANSPARENCY AS ITRELATES TO NURSING HOMEREPORTING IS WOEFUL.

STATESENATOR GARY FARMER NOTHOLDING BACK IN CRITICIZINGTHE STATE FOR KEEPING SECRETSOVER WHICH LONG TERM CARECENTERS HAVE OUTBREAKS OCOVID-19.

9:51- I DON'T SEEANY JUSTIFICATION FOR THECONTINUED CONCEALMENT OF THATINFORMATION.

I DON'T .

THEREIS NO JUSTIFICATION THAT COMESTO MY MIND FOR NOT RELEASINGTHIS INFORMATION FARMER, OFBROWARD COUNTY ALONG WITHREPRESENTATIVE WENGAY NEWTONOF ST.

PETERSBURG...BOTHCALLING ON THE GOVERNOR TODETAIL WHICH NURSING HOMES ANDASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES INTHE STATE ARE DEALING WITH THEVIRUS AND TO WHAT EXTENT... TODATE... THE STATE HAS ONLYSHARED TOTAL NUMBERS OFPOSITIVE CASES INSIDE LONG-TERM CARE CENTERS.

AS OF THISMORNING...IT WAS JUST SHY OF...AND GROWING.

1:55- WE ARESO UPSET AND CONCERNED.

FAMILYMEMBERS ARE ALSO DESPERATE FORDETAILS.

(FROM PACKAGE EARLITHIS WEEK) 3:35- IF THIS GETSINTO A NURSING HOME, IT'SGOING TO SPREAD LIKE WILDFIREAND NO-ONE IS GOING TO KNOW,NONE'S GOING TO KNOW AROUNDTHE STATE...NEWS OF COVID-19OUTBREAKS AND DEATHS INSIDETHESE CENTERS ARE TRICKLINGOUT... AFTER WORD GOT OUTABOUT DOZENS OF INFECTEDRESIDENTS AND STAFF AT THISCENTER ON FLORIDA'S WESTCOAST...A SPOKEPSERSONCONFIRMED A NUMBER OF POSITIVECASES - BUT WOULDN'T SAY HOWMANY.

MEANTIME, THE INDUSTRYIS FIGHTING BACK.RECENTLY...THE FLORIDA HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION FILED THISUNPRECEDENTED REQUEST TO THEGOVERNOR-ASKING FOR BOTH CIVILAND CRIMINAL IMMUNITY FOR ALLHEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ANDPROVIDERS...INCLUDING LONGTERM CARE CENTERS...ASPOKESPERSON DESCRIBED IT ASWAY TO STOP VILLAINIZINGHEALTHCARE WORKERS ON THEFRONTLINES OF A PANDEMIC WITHLIMITED SUPPLY AND RAPIDLYCHANGING RULES.

FARMER CALLSIT OUTRAGEOUS.

3:18- NOT ONLYDO WE SEE NO NEED FOR IMMUNITYFOR NURSING HOMES, WE NEGREATER TRANSPARENCY ANDENSURED ACCOUNTABILITY BC THEYARE THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE.THEY ARE THE ONES SUPPOSED TOBE PROTECTING OUR ELDERLYCOMMUNITY AND IF THEY'RE NDOING IT, THEY NEED TO BE HELDACCOUNTABLE.

KATIE TAG-ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDAHEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION- TENOTHER STATES HAVE ALREADYGRANTED HEALTHCARE PROVIDERSAND NURSING HOMES IMMUNITYDURING THIS PANDEMIC.

WE'VESUBMITTED A RECORDS REQUEST TOTHE STATE FOR LOCATION DETAILSOF CASES INSIDE LONG TERM CARECENTERS IN FLORIDA BUT HAVE TOHEAR ANYTHING BACK.

KL TOUT.