Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., does not agree New York's handling of the coronavirus pandemic is a model of success.
Even though the country's leading infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has praised the state's virus response efforts, Paul told Newsmax TV's "American Agenda" that New York was a "model of disaster."
During his Tuesday appearance, the Republican lawmaker from Kentucky ripped New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his "terrible" nursing home policy that had allowed positive virus patients to return to nursing homes from hospitals.
"I see nothing of New York to emulate," Paul told host Bob Sellers.
He said New York's death rate is "monumental" and is still eight times worse than Florida, which is experiencing an uptick in cases.
"They did do a lockdown in New York, and they still had the worst death rate in the country," Paul said.
He said he is "perplexed" by Fauci and other leaders who are lauding the state's handling of the outbreak.
Paul said Cuomo's nursing home policy, which has since been reversed, is the No. 1 lesson other states can learn from in addressing their response to the virus.
"I think the main thing we learned is not to send people who are positive for the disease back into nursing homes," he said, adding doctors also are now better prepared to treat the disease.
Rand, who is a doctor, predicts the death rate in states seeing a rise in cases will be lower because the age of people becoming infected is lower. He also suggested New York's cases and death rate have both plummeted because the state has achieved some form of immunity that other states will have to work toward.
"Perhaps the death rate is happening independent" of social distancing and other mitigation measures, he said.
"The virus has a mind of its own, and ultimately it runs its course," Paul said.
He said the government should continue to provide information from a variety of experts so Americans can make their own choices.
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