Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced elective surgery restrictions will start to be eased after this weekend.
Key points:
- Elective surgery will start up again in a phased approach, subject to capacity
- IVF, joint replacements, cataracts and post-cancer recovery procedures can restart
- National Cabinet will consider another expansion of surgery in May
National Cabinet, which includes Mr Morrison, premiers and chief ministers, has decided to lift the restrictions, imposed last month, following a briefing from health officials.
IVF, joint replacement, cataracts, breast reconstruction and dental procedures are among those that will be able to take place following the Anzac Day long weekend.
Elective surgeries were cancelled last month to free up beds amid fears the coronavirus would overwhelm the hospital system.
The decision has been reversed following a decline in the spread of the disease and the arrival of millions of face masks and other items of personal protective equipment (PPE).
"This will not mean an immediate return to normal with elective surgery, but a gradual restart, subject of course to capacity and other constraints that may exist in each jurisdiction," Mr Morrison said.
The Prime Minister, speaking at 1:30pm AEDT, said there were now fewer than 2,500 active cases of people with coronavirus in Australia.
In other points from the wide-ranging press conference:
- 517,000 JobSeeker claims have been processed since March 16
- National Cabinet is concerned at reports people in aged-care homes are being stopped from having visitors
- The 4 square metres per person rule does not apply to classrooms
- National Cabinet has offered in-principle support for a coronavirus tracking app
Surgery rules to be reviewed again in May
The elective surgeries that will begin again are all category two procedures, and some in category three.
The category three procedures include colonoscopies, endoscopies, and post-cancer treatments.
"All measures will be further subject to review on May 11 to determine if all surgeries and procedures can then recommence more broadly," Mr Morrison said.
"We estimate that this will lead to a reopening of around 25 per cent of activity in elective surgery in our private and public hospitals."
More to come.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA0LTIxL2Nvcm9hbnZpcnVzLW5hdGlvbmFsLWNhYmluZXQtZWxlY3RpdmUtc3VyZ2VyeS10by1yZXN1bWUvMTIxNjg3NzDSASZodHRwOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjE2ODc3MA?oc=5
2020-04-21 04:00:13Z
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