Covid Surge in State Psychiatric Centers Kills Two Patients in January, Hundreds Remain Infected

*Reposted from Gotham Gazette. Written by Ethan Geringer-Sameth (photo: @Acroterion via Wikimedia Commons) *

The winter COVID-19 surge in state-run psychiatric centers has continued, killing two patients in January and with roughly 200 patients still infected as of February 2.

The facilities, 24 in all, are home to New Yorkers deemed to have severe mental illnesses that require segregation from the community and/or on-site treatment. There are currently 4,400 people living in close quarters in state-run psychiatric institutions, some with underlying medical conditions, making the facilities more vulnerable to the virus than other congregate settings. Most of those patients are in state custody involuntarily and for indefinite terms, whether or not they entered willingly, under the strictures of the state Mental Hygiene Law.

Since the pandemic began, 55 state psychiatric patients are confirmed to have died of COVID-19, with more suspected casualties. Thousands of infections have been detected. But lawmakers in the Legislature's mental health committees have not conducted any public oversight of conditions in state psychiatric centers since the pandemic began.

For entire article visit: https://www.gothamgazette.com/state/11067-omicron-covid-surge-state-psy…