STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Peter and Susan Cheung miss their daughter Samantha.

What You Need To Know

  • Nursing homes and group homes have forbidden visits since March, citing vulnerability of the people living there. 

  • On Tuesday, Governor Cuomo finally said it is ok for visits to resume for group homes. 

  • Parents have not seen their children in 90 days, and many worry they have regressed in that time. 

  • Cuomo said visits are up to the discretion of the homes, and will require masks and temperature checks. 

The West Brighton couple used to visit her several days a week at the nearby group home where she's lived for 12 years because of a rare chromosomal disorder.

But that's not been possible since the coronavirus crisis began.

"I just wanna touch her, you know?" Cheung said.

There has been a lot of attention on the state's policy of forbidding visits to nursing homes to protect the elderly from the virus. But since March, the same policy also has been in effect at adult homes like Samantha's, which also have residents vulnerable to COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that visits to the group homes can resume on Friday.

It's a relief for the Cheungs, who sometimes have stood stand outside Samantha's home, hoping to steal a glimpse of her through the window. They don't want her to know they're there because they fear it would upset her.

Samantha has been told she can only see her parents on daily FaceTime calls because of the virus, but it is not clear how much she understands.

"The worst is when she asks, 'When are you coming?' I hope that she just accepts and acknowledges it - but at what point will be her breaking point?" Cheung said.

Angelica Cohen also cannot wait to see her child, Alan, who is 27, autistic, and non-verbal.

She says Alan has regressed in the absence of the weekly sleepovers he used to have at her house.

Cohen has seen him just one time in three months.

"Even though you are non-verbal and you have a disability, he's getting depressed. You could see him getting depressed. There's no light in his eyes," Cohen told NY1.

The governor said that visits will be allowed at the discretion of the group homes, and that anyone who goes inside must wear a mask and undergo a temperature check.

These moms tell NY1 they'll do whatever they have to as long as it means they can see their children in person again.