A mandate by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo directing coronavirus patients into nursing homes is being called a “death sentence” by the Republican representative of New York’s 23rd Congressional District.

On Tuesday, Tom Reed, R-Corning, during his weekly call with regional media, applauded the calling of a hearing in the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee that will take place Thursday to examine the New York state’s nursing home policies and review what recommendations can be implemented moving forward to protect the elderly.

Reed said there are more than 6,000 deaths related to Cuomo’s orders to direct coronavirus patients into nursing homes starting with an order March 25, which didn’t end until the governor signed an executive order on May 11 stopping hospitals from sending infected patients back to nursing homes and ramping up testing for staff.

Reed said the death toll could be even larger than what is currently being reported.

“We will continue to fight for justice,” Reed said.

Cuomo has reportedly said Republicans are playing politics when it comes to blaming the governor for the deaths in nursing homes. Cuomo has also reportedly blamed the federal government and the CDC for the high nursing home death rate in New York state.

Reed said the hearing will be an important step because it will hopefully prevent future deaths in nursing homes if there is a second wave of coronavirus in the fall. He said it’s critical that the federal government investigate how sending COVID-19 patients into nursing homes was allowed to happen, with particular focus on best practices moving forward. He added that the subcommittee should examine what went wrong in New York so that other states might learn from the mistakes and prevent avoidable deaths as the COVID-19 health crisis continues.

“Justice demands that we continue to do this,” Reed said. “We owe it to our parents and grandparents to do the hardwork now.”