There are several versions: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

I'd offer that stupidity can be replaced by incompetence or ignorance and probably more reasons. I think more needs to be known of Cuomo's reasoning and what, if any, expert medical advice he was offered or received. It's easy to accept that he felt there was no viable alternative and/or the cost of alternatives was a factor. Either way it was a horrendous decision that on the surface could easily be seen by most people with any knowledge of viral epidemics as risky at best. As much as I have little regard for Cuomo as a man or a leader, absent specific knowledge I don't find it certain, but is plausible, he chose to put people back in their nursing homes callously and without regard for their health and safety. I certainly could be wrong. (Edit: This is a pretty wishy washy statement but is the best I can offer without evidence of malice.)

The bigger issues begin with the disgraceful condition of most nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the US. The aged are throwaways for families up to government. Money and the difficulty of the job are both major factors. It is a societal problem that few want to consider much less fix. The NY Covid event simply spotlights the problem that few care enough to do anything.

A law that protects financial interests and and eliminates any legal culpability of corporations and governments for decisions made for financial reasons is about par for the course as well as a terrible idea. Look to the state of health insurance industry. They merrily kill and bankrupt people for financial gain every day despite being contractually required to do what they refuse to do. Enshrine this idea in law and corporations will have one more tool to farm us without our having any recourse to prevent or stop it. That Cuomo is leading the charge is about right.

They could at least allow people to choose humane euthanasia but that would be immoral. Think of the optics! Cruelty under the cover of law is so much the better choice, no?

Nursing homes with various levels of legally defined care and responsibilities are regulated by the state and federal government. Each state has its own inspection program which at minimum utilizes the federal regulations for skilled and intermediate care facilities receiving federal funds. Lesser care facilitates are generally state regulates with fewer inspections.

In his own words.
[video:https://youtu.be/s-98ETlWNTU?t=440]

The dollars involved in lobbying in longterm care is obscene. Learning the methods used to profit is highly educational in the intricacies of predatory capitalism. Patient advocates and quality focused businesses gained significant progress up through the early 2000's. Then the tide changed. When it came time to make a decision for each of my parent's I no longer felt it was a manageable option for their care. Fortunately there were other options available at the time.

There were objections to New York's policy mandated March 25.

New York State's nursing homes cannot reject newly released hospital patients solely because they tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a new state directive says.

The order raised concern in an industry whose elderly and frail residents have the lowest survival rate for the disease.

The state health department issued the new directive, which the nursing home industry says is a first, late Wednesday. "No resident shall be denied readmission or admission to the [nursing home] solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19,” the directive reads.
...
Stephen Hanse, CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association, a trade group, said the new policy appeared to be precautionary. "At the same time, it does raise significant concerns for nursing homes that don't have coronavirus-positive residents or are at capacity," Hanse said.

He also noted there are hospitals around the state that still have extra rooms and questioned why patients still fighting the virus would be sent to nursing homes housing the most vulnerable.

"We have the hindsight of Kirkland," he said, referring to the Washington State nursing home where nearly three dozen have died.

New York's nursing homes are well-trained in fighting infections and have the correct policies and procedures to handle outbreaks, he added.

Jonah Bruno, a state Department of Health spokesman, said the state has put in place new rules to fight the virus in nursing homes, such as eliminating communal dining and stopping visits. "Protecting New York’s most vulnerable nursing home population is a priority in addressing the current COVID-19 outbreak and containing the virus,” he said by email.

Republicans and Democrats are working in cooperation across the isle on an issue that concern both parties. The health of profits for corporations and big business.