- The official COVID-19 death toll

in nursing homes acrossNew York stands at 6,600,

but that number may be far greater

because the state only counts residents

who died on nursing home property

and not those who died afterbeing transported to hospitals.

For Fox News, meteorologist Janice Dean,

the stats one COVID-relatednursing home deaths

are personal.

Earlier this year,

she lost her elderly in-laws to the virus.

- So coronavirus happens.

We're not allowed to see them.

We didn't know his dad was ill at all.

We were getting updatesfrom the nursing home,

regular updates, and one Saturdaymorning, we get an update,

the end of March saying,"Your dad's not feeling well."

And three hours later,

they call us back and tell us he's died.

His mom was in theassisted living residence

and several days later, she got ill,

and she had to be brought to the hospital

and they diagnosed her with coronavirus

and she just died a few days later.

- [Charlene] New York governorAndrew Cuomo says his state

has only 20% of COVID deathsfrom nursing homes compared

to 68% in Pennsylvania,64% in Massachusetts,

and 44% in New Jersey.

The controversy began in March

when Cuomo mandated recoveringcoronavirus patients

be placed in nursing homes.

This despite the availability

of the Navy hospital ship Comfort,

2,500 hospital beds set up inside

the Javits Convention Center

and the field hospital setup by Samaritan's Purse.

Many say the policy led to thousands

of possibly preventabledeaths across the state.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paulwants Cuomo removed from office.

- Governor Cuomo ought to be impeached

for the worst public policy,public health decision,

maybe in a century sending patients

with coronavirus back to nursing homes.

- [Charlene] Despite multiple calls

for an independent investigation,

the governor's still refusingas recent as last week.

- [Andrew] No, I wouldn'tdo an investigation.

I think you'd have to be blind

to realize it's not political.

Just look at where it comes from

and look at the sources

and look at their political affiliation.

- [Charlene] The New Yorkstate legislature wants answers

and recently invited families

whose loved ones diedin elder care facilities

to testify.

During those hearings lawmakers

also grilled state healthcommissioner Howard Zucker

for failing to report theactual number of COVID deaths

in nursing homes.

- Your administration'sdefinition truly misrepresents

the true scale of thiscrisis in a nursing home.

And let's try and get thefull picture here and now.

How many of New York'snursing home residents died

in hospitals?

- I am not prepared togive you a specific number.

- [Charlene] Meanwhile Dean believes she

was disinvited from the public hearing

because of her affiliation with Fox News.

Regardless, she says all

the families affected deserve answers.

- I like a 9/11 style commission hearing

because it's not only New York.

There are several other Statesthat did the same thing,

putting coronaviruspatients into nursing homes.

So, you know, listen that that's my hope.

I don't know if that'll ever happen,

but my argument is GovernorCuomo, what do you have to hide?

- [Charlene] Charlene Aaron, CBN News.