A survey by the state attorney general's office shows the state health department's count of COVID-related nursing home deaths is significantly lower than the true number.
The AG's office surveyed 62 nursing homes and found 55 percent more deaths when including deaths of residents in hospitals.
The report also found evidence of undercounting of COVID deaths inside the nursing homes.
According to the report, lack of compliance with infection control protocols put residents at increased risk -- and homes that had lower pre-pandemic staffing ratings had higher COVID-19 fatality rates.