ALBANY, N.Y. — Dr. Howard Zucker, commissioner of the New York State Department of Health who helped lead the state’s pandemic response under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, resigned on Thursday.
Zucker was criticized for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in nursing homes, particularly a mandate in March 2020 that allowed COVID-positive residents to return to senior facilities.
Zucker tendered his resignation in a Thursday letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“There comes a time when the baton should be passed in this marathon journey that we call public service in New York State. With a fierce dedication to the public’s health, I have carried it through many a crisis in the last seven years and five months and placed the welfare of our residents at the forefront of all things, professional and personal. Though we continue to address new quagmires related to the pandemic, from issues of booster shots to legal challenges regarding vaccine mandates, I believe that in our particular state the most difficult aspects of this may be behind us … I therefore tender my resignation as Commissioner of Health for the State of New York and will work to help provide for a smooth transition,” Zucker wrote.
Hochul had this to say about Zucker: “I agree with his decision. He has been a dedicated public servant for over seven and a half years,” she said in announcing the resignation during a morning coronavirus briefing. “He worked hard through the pandemic and I want to thank him for his service on behalf of the people the state. And I will be saying that he has agreed to stay on until the position will be filled. He understands that … I’ve wanted to take the first 45 days to assemble a new team going forward.”
Critics of Zucker respond to the news
In a statement, New York State Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R–Pulaski) called the Zucker resignation “an obvious and overdue step.”
“That’s why I, and members of the Assembly Minority Conference, called on Gov. Hochul to make an immediate change. While he remains at DOH until a replacement is named, arriving at this point should not have taken so long. Throughout the COVID pandemic, Dr. Zucker was more interested in protecting Andrew Cuomo’s image than protecting public health. As Gov. Hochul begins the process of finding a new health commissioner, I hope she looks for an individual without ties to the previous administration or the numerous controversies that defined it,” Barclay said.
In a separate statement, New York State Senator Pamela Helming (R–Canandaigua) said Zucker’s resignation is “long overdue.”
“Nevertheless, this is a first step toward restoring trust and confidence in the leadership of the New York State Department of Health. Today, I am thinking about the thousands of families across my district and the state who lost their loved ones in nursing homes. Dr. Zucker’s resignation is just the beginning of getting the accountability they deserve. The Governor must prioritize the release of the nursing home data so there is complete transparency. We also await any determinations from the investigations underway. We must all work together to better protect and care for our seniors. I am hopeful the new leader of the Health Department will be committed to this priority.”
