Cuomo Decision to Centralize Control of New York COVID-19 Response a Mistake: Audit

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s centralized control of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was a “significant and obvious mistake,” according to an audit commissioned by his successor. Existing structures were “were largely ignored,” leading to “unnecessary confusion at a time when New Yorkers needed clarity,” the Olson Group, which carried out the audit for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, concluded in the “New York State COVID-19 After Action Report.” Both Mr. Cuomo and Ms. Hochul are Democrats. New York state officials prepared to tackle COVID-19 in early 2020 as the number of cases in China and elsewhere grew. However, Mr. Cuomo’s office displaced the New York State Department of Health and other agencies to lead the response to COVID-19 shortly after cases began being confirmed in the state....