Public Policy: Mandatory Testing for Nursing Home Staff

Through public policy, governments can put their programs into action and influence issues in society. The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the country and the whole world in terms of public health, the lack of a vaccine or cure, social life, and economics. This crisis has seen people die at alarming rates across all states in the country. Its effect on the economy is detrimental as people cannot perform their day-to-day businesses but rather stay at home. New York has recorded high numbers of infections and deaths that have seen the governor put measures to control and manage the crisis. Among other public policy measures, the governor has issued executive orders since March 16th in pursuit of compacting the outbreak and effects of the virus. These ‘new’ state laws have affected the citizens of New York in various ways. This paper analyzes four executive orders that the governor has issued since March 16th, the necessity of the same, and their effects on the citizens of New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York issued an executive order that calls for mandatory testing of all nursing homes’ staff. The testing would be regular, twice per week, until further notice stating otherwise. It is the responsibility of the operators and administrators of nursing homes, including adult care facilities, to ensure this executive order is implemented. The operators are also tasked with developing a testing plan and center so all will have unrestricted access. In cooperation with the Department of Health and local departments, centers will facilitate testing and management of the virus. According to the executive order, positive results or outcomes would be reported to the health department by 5 p.m. The reason for the issuance of this executive order was to curb and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes. The staff plays essential roles in these homes, and therefore, they should be healthy and free of the virus before the administration of their duties. They also operate closely with patients in nursing homes, which can lead to the spread of the virus. They must be tested twice a week to determine the statuses and detect if any, the virus earlier to curb the spread. It was necessary to issue and see this executive order implemented for various reasons. First, nursing homes and adult care facilities are comprised of the elderly in society. The elderly populations are vulnerable to the acquisition of diseases due to low immunity. A single interaction between a patient with a nurse who is infected by the virus might see them acquiring the virus. Also, due to this vulnerability, the elderly populations are likely to succumb to death. The virus has proven to be fatal among aging populations. Since there is no cure or vaccine of the virus yet, the body fights the virus by itself. This nature makes older adults easily succumb to death as their bodies cannot resist the virus without the support of medications and treatments. This executive order is effective has it has seen a reduction in the spread of the virus in nursing homes and adult care facilities. It is always assumed that nurses are healthy, but the virus does not discriminate. The order ensures that the disease does not spread due to ignorance or naivety. As senior citizens of New York State, the elderly populations in nursing homes and adult care facilities are protected through this public policy. Since the executive order has reduced or prevented the spread of the virus in nursing homes, deaths among older adults have decreased significantly. The governor issued an executive order that affected taxation in New York. It contained directives to the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance to give tax relief to citizens and business entities in the state. Most importantly, the directions allowed for interest abatement for 60 days for taxpayers in the region for late tax filing and payment. In obedience to these directives, the department issued guidelines for taxpayers as well as ‘acceptable’ behavior. For all those who did not file taxes or make payments on time because their employees were affected by the virus, their interests will be waived. Businesses that had disruptions and were unable to meet the tax obligations due to the outbreak of COVID-19 were exempted from interest. The governor needed to issue this executive order given the detrimental effects of COVID-19 on businesses and the incomes of citizens of New York. The virus has affected the operations of organizations negatively as people are no longer engaging in normal business activities. Physical meetings are discouraged as they can lead to the spread of the virus. Efficiency in production is distracted as employees are working from home. Most of the companies are not able to operate effectively and yield income as they used to do before because of this crisis. The revenue levels among businesses and organizations across New York have gone low, therefore, necessitating interest abatement and tax relief. This policy is effective and has helped firms sustain their operations as well as survive during this pandemic. Abatement of interests and tax reliefs have seen businesses cut expenses and costs, which is essential for their survival. This order has affected the citizens of New York directly. Abatements and reliefs have encouraged companies not to downsize or lay off employees. People are looking forward to continuing with their jobs and earning income during and post-COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the adverse effects of COVID-19, the governor of New York issued a stay-at-home order. This order ensures that schools and nonessential businesses or activities are closed until the state finds it viable for operations to return to normal. “All schools shall remain closed through the remainder of the school year,” the order partly stated. Also, employees whose nature of their jobs does not necessarily need them at work will remain at home and work remotely. Also, nonessential businesses would stay closed until the government finds it safe for them to reopen. The governor emphasized that in case the virus continues to spread, he will extend this executive order. The lifting of the order would be based on scientific data and statistics about COVID-19. The governor argued that stay-at-home order is necessary as it protects the citizens of New York as well as prevents the spread of the virus. Schools and other social events increase the risk of the spread of COVID-19. For instance, school activities cannot take place without interactions among students, teachers, and other staff. Students are likely to get exposed to the virus as they would face social-distancing difficulties. Similarly, employees at workplaces could have issues obeying social distancing. Public events and meetings are also forbidden as they expose individuals and undermine the social-distancing measure. The staying-at-home order is the only way that society would curb the spread of the virus. This order has impacted the lives of citizens of New York in various ways. People cannot go about their businesses as they are instructed to stay at home. The social life of people is affected as events, and public gathering is burned at the moment. Most importantly, schools are closed, forcing students to stay at home. This order has affected the education calendar and activities. Despite the provisions that have allowed students to study online and undertake online classes, the virus has affected learning negatively. Teachers are unable to monitor the behavior and the progress of their students effectively. On the brighter side, students are protected and prevented from getting the deadly virus. Online classes have opened new opportunities for students, as they can research and enhance their learning abilities. They have opportunities to interact with their families and loved ones who are also working remotely. The stay-at-home order has fostered relationships and strengthened family bonds. The governed issued an executive order providing directions that “landlords and tenants may enter into a written agreement by which the security deposit shall be used to pay rent arrears.” Such relief would be eligible for those who are facing financial difficulties during this pandemic. The governor emphasized that tenants should enter into such agreements willingly, and therefore, issues of harassments by landlords would not be tolerated. This order was necessary to address the harsh economic times that citizens of New York are going through because of COVID 19. The order impacts the citizens, especially those rendered jobless during this pandemic. The burden of suffering due to lack of income is lessened, and therefore, citizens could concentrate on fulfilling other basic needs. 

Conclusion 

The COVID 19 pandemic has affected operations in countries and states like New York adversely. The economy is ruined as most economic activities are limited: people working remotely, a decrease in production and sales, and low-income levels. The executive orders of the governor of New York seek to manage and compact the effects of the COVID 19 outbreak. Such orders have affected the citizens of New York and their operations. As much as the orders have seen schools and many organizations close, I think they were necessary for managing the spread and prevention of COVID 19 in New York.