From CBS6:

ALBANY NY (WRGB) – We’ve heard about COVID-19 cases in nursing homes, but staff in another type of residential facility say they feel their patients have been forgotten.

There are more than 7,000 state-run group homes for the developmentally disabled across New York State.

CBS 6 has learned there have been at least 1,974 positive cases of COVID-19 in group homes operated under the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

As of Saturday, 324 residents had died from the virus, according to an OPWDD spokesperson.

A whistleblower who works in one of these group homes tells CBS 6’s Anne McCloy they feel a state policy is putting their patients at risk. Because this person fears for their job, we are protecting their identity.

“We have a positive house in Rexford,” said the whistleblower.

The whistleblower works in a Capital Region group home operated by OPWDD. The whistleblower says three group homes in Schenectady and Saratoga counties have positive COVID-19 cases right now.

CBS 6 found people dressed in full protective gear going in and out of a home in Rexford, which the whistleblower says is one of the group homes with at least one positive case.

“We have a positive house in Clifton Park and a positive house in Schenectady,” the whistleblower said.

These state-operated group homes are often located in residential neighborhoods and house vulnerable adults with disorders like autism. The whistleblower says they usually house between 6-8 adults per home. OPWDD says there are 38,000 residents between 7,250 group homes across the state.

The whistleblower provided CBS 6’s Anne McCloy with OPWDD documents that show the addresses of the homes with COVID-positive cases in Schenectady, Clifton Park and Rexford, and addresses for 16 other OPWDD group homes located in the Capital Region and the North Country that are currently under supervision for possible COVID-19 exposure.

According to the documents, these are the number of group homes under supervision for possible COVID-19 in each of the following cities:

Schenectady- 3
Cambridge- 1
Ballston Spa- 1
Fort Edward- 1
Watervliet- 1
Colonie- 1
Lake Luzerne- 1
Greenwich- 1
Clifton Park- 2
Brunswick- 1
Lake George- 1
Shushan- 1
Troy-1
Glens Falls- 1

In a statement, a spokesperson said “OPWDD is taking the threat of COVID-19 to the people we support and the broader community very seriously.”

But the whistleblower tells Anne staff members believe a policy change needs to be made to protect residents.

Right now, the whistleblower says some residents come and go as they please. It’s happening with one resident where the whistleblower works, with a resident described as having mild developmental disabilities.

“We are encouraged to ask them to wear masks, he refuses, he is allowed to do whatever he wants to do. He may come in from being wherever for 4 or 5 days and then we don’t know,” said the whistleblower.

The whistleblower feels the State should separate high-risk patients from those who are roaming around town and could put others at risk.

“It’s been brought to their attention. We have vacant respite houses. They’re just sitting there, they’re not occupied,” said the whistleblower.

The whistleblower said one particular individual in the home has respiratory issues.

“You know if he gets sick it could be a very bad situation for him. Our concern is protecting the ones who remain in the home,” said the whistleblower.

Anne shared the whistleblower’s concerns with OPWDD, and a spokesperson sent her a link to a COVID-19 policy. It reads:

“At the provider’s discretion, individuals should be permitted to leave the residence to engage in low risk community outings such as sitting outside or taking a walk.”

But OPWDD did not say what staff members should do if a resident is not following social distancing guidelines.

We also inquired whether the State has updated its policies after Governor Cuomo recently required staff to be tested twice a week in nursing homes.

OPWDD said testing is available to essential staff and that staff are encouraged to be tested.

Read More From: CBS6