Justice probes state-run veteran homes in New Jersey after high number of COVID-related deaths

The Justice Department has started a civil rights probe into New Jersey's state-run U.S. veterans homes, following a high number of deaths in such facilities as a result of the coronavirus and amid concerns about the understating of the numbers.

As many as 190 veterans have died at facilities in Paramus and Menlo Park since the start of the pandemic in March, according to Politico. That figure would represent roughly a third of their population before the pandemic. 

The department informed New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy about the probe in an Oct. 27 letter, which also stated the investigation follows an effort in August to get information on skilled nursing, long-term care and other such facilities owned or operated by the state.

There is "cause for concern that the quality of medical care at these nursing homes has been deficient," the letter states.

More than 7,200 residents and staff of New Jersey long-term care facilities who tested positive for the virus have died since March 4. That number equals roughly 45% of the total estimated number of deaths in the state as a result of the virus, Politico also reports.