Today's Topline - 4/22/20
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Source: MedTech Association
Good Wednesday morning:
This morning’s news, like this morning’s weather, is a bit all over the place. Protests over state lockdown orders – seemingly coordinated - offer vivid pictures of frustration and anger. Meanwhile, governors and public health experts agree – with substantial evidence - that strict social distancing requirements have achieved a measure of success in containing the spread of COVID-19. One thing is clear, however; we remain a country locked in the disease’s grip and divided over how best to respond.
As we reported yesterday, Governor Cuomo has announced a plan to resume elective surgeries in many parts of New York State. Hospitals will be able to resume performing elective outpatient treatments on April 28, 2020 if the hospital capacity is over 25 percent for the county and if there have been fewer than 10 new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in the county over the past 10 days. If a hospital is located in a county eligible to resume elective outpatient treatments, but that hospital has a capacity under 25 percent or has had more than 10 new hospitalizations in the past 10 days, that hospital is not eligible to resume elective surgeries. If a county or hospital that has resumed elective surgery experiences a decrease in hospital capacity below the 25 percent threshold or an increase of 10 or more new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients, elective surgeries must cease. Further, patients must test negative for COVID-19 prior to any elective outpatient treatment. The State Department of Health will issue guidance on resuming elective surgeries.
Restrictions on elective surgery will remain in place in Bronx, Queens, Rockland, Nassau, Clinton, Yates, Westchester, Albany, Richmond, Schuyler, Kings, Suffolk, New York, Dutchess, Sullivan, Ulster, Erie, Orange and Rensselaer Counties as the state continues to monitor the rate of new COVID-19 infections in the region.
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As always, don’t hesitate to contact us with your specific questions and concerns. Regular updates can be found at our website, which is refreshed daily.