For Immediate Release
July 30, 2020
Contact: Audrey Lane
Tel: (973) 370-3853
[email protected]
PARSIPPANY, NJ: As a result of a series of meetings with veterans and VFW leadership in New Jersey, Rosemary Becchi, a candidate for the 11th Congressional District in New Jersey is elevating a call from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of New Jersey for an independent investigation of the coronavirus response in all veterans nursing homes in the state of New Jersey.
During the COVID-19 pandemic the New Jersey veteran nursing homes suffered extreme losses with one facility losing 1 in 4 residents for a total of 142 veterans, spouses, and Gold Star parents.
“The inaction of our New Jersey leadership and lack of response to the Coronavirus deaths in our veteran nursing homes is shameful. Our veterans have put their lives on the line to fight for our country, and we now we need to fight for them. It is quite simply, the least we can do” said Rosemary Becchi.
“I call directly upon Representative Mikie Sherrill to immediately call for an independent investigation into the loss of lives at our New Jersey veterans homes so that we can put a plan in place to protect our veterans as soon as possible. Mikie Sherrill’s inaction is unacceptable, our veterans deserve better.”
There was a delay of more than 2 weeks after the crisis was first reported for healthy residents to be separated from patients who tested positive for COVID-19. By all accounts, this inaction likely led to the spread of the virus.
In April, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of New Jersey, along with Congressmen Gottheimer and Pascrell requested that the VA Inspector General’s Office investigate the states response to COVID-19 with the goal of improving response times, and instituting best practices to protect our most vulnerable populations. Mikie Sherrill did nothing and was notably absent.
The Department of Health has refused to testify before a State Assembly Committee investigating the issue; however, the assistant health commissioner and other state employees who filed ethics complaints have been terminated.
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