Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia) was joined today by Sen. Patrick Gallivan (R,C,IP,RFM) to call on Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York state Attorney General

Letitia James and state Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker to investigate safety concerns within Avon Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Avon Nursing and Rehabilitation is a small, 40-bed facility that has recently been

infected with COVID-19. There are thirteen positive resident cases, two deaths and positive staff

cases. While residents were eventually tested after a two-week delay, staff remain untested. This failure to utilize universal testing that was offered by the Livingston County Department of Health could endanger the well-being of every person in the nursing home.

Byrnes and Gallivan are calling for an investigation of Avon Nursing and Rehabilitation and its management decisions. The nursing home is operated by Hurlbut Care Communities, a company that also owns Hornell Gardens, a 65-bed facility, where over a dozen deaths have occurred from COVID-19. The state has already announced that it will be investigating another of Hurlbut Care Communities’ facilities. Byrnes and Gallivan demand that the Avon facility be investigated as well.

“The failure to conduct timely universal testing of residents and workers in the Avon facility during this health crisis endangers our entire community,” said Byrnes. “Many are sick, and people have died. The management at this nursing home is refusing county assistance to complete testing. It is outrageous that Hurlbut is being uncooperative with conducting COVID-19 testing not just in Avon, but many of its facilities.”

“We know that elderly individuals, especially those living in nursing homes, are more susceptible to COVID-19,” Senator Gallivan said. “It appears the operator of Avon Nursing and Rehabilitation has not taken necessary steps to protect residents and staff from further infection. I urge the appropriate state agencies to ensure universal testing at this facility and a thorough investigation of its management.”

The letter is attached here.