The state of New York uses intimidation, threats, and deception to force employees to work at COVID-19-infected group homes for the developmentally disabled, where 552 people have died, four whistleblowers told the Washington Examiner.

Care workers say it’s standard to arrive to work at one of 7,000 group homes, only to be rotated by superiors to another location where a COVID-19 outbreak has left the facility short staffed. Any protest results in a fine, reprimand, or threat of termination, the employees said.