COVID-19 has led to at least 2,600 deaths in Connecticut's nursing homes. State lawmakers Tuesday vowed to find out why so many patients died.

State Rep. Michelle Cook says the system failed her father-in-law, a Korean War veteran.

"We were once again told by the doctors that COVID was in Pops' nursing home. So we called again there to ask, 'Is there any COVID in the facility?' And once again, we were told, 'No, there is none. Who told you that there was?'" said Cook.

Gov. Ned Lamont says an outside review will be finished by August.

Bipartisan lawmakers Tuesday demanded specific answers: What are nursing homes' testing protocols? When were workers asked about possible exposure? And were new residents isolated and quarantined?

At Golden Hill Rehab in Milford, where nearly 70% of patients tested positive, staffers said the outbreak began with a new patient.

"Is that a matter of infection protocols? Is that a matter of dementia units, where probably you had a less likelihood being able to wear the mask?" asked Lamont.

Lawmakers also want to know why it took so long to get nurses proper protective gear.

"What was the chain of command? How did the chain of command work? And how can we improve on it? All the way from the governor's office, to the commissioner's office, to all of the respective department heads," said state Rep. Rosa Rebimbas.

Right now, nursing homes are not required to notify families of a disease outbreak. State lawmakers say they plan to change that.

 

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