CANBERRA: Elective surgeries will resume in Australia within a week amid the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Tuesday.
The National Cabinet, which comprises Morrison and state and territory leaders, on Tuesday agreed to lift some restrictions on elective procedures next week, reports Xinhua news agency.
The decision comes less than a month after elective surgeries were banned indefinitely to ease the pressure on the health care system amid the COVID-19 crisis.
“This will not mean an immediate return to normal with elective surgery, but a gradual restart, subject to of course capacity and other constraints that may exist in each jurisdiction,” Morrison said.
Procedures that will resume include those in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, post-cancer reconstructions, joint replacements and procedures for children.
The decision to ease the restrictions was prompted by the slowing spread of the virus in Australia.
Morrison also identified the “increase in the amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) that we have been able to secure” as a significant factor in the decision.
Brendan Murphy, Australia’s chief medical officer, said that resuming elective surgery represented a “gentle, careful start” to “normalizing” health care in Australia.
“It is incredibly important. Some elective surgery is life saving. It really means all surgery that’s not urgent,” he said.
“One of the things that has concerned the health profession generally during this pandemic has been the lack of attention to non-COVID-related medical conditions.”
Australia has reported 6,547 coronavirus cases with 67 deaths.
