Non-urgent surgeries and procedures to gradually resume at Ontario hospitals

The Ontario government says non-urgent surgeries and procedures can gradually resume in the province.

During a news conference on Thursday, Dr. Kieran Moore said Omicron-variant cases have peaked and the province should now begin focusing on resuming other activities in the health system and society at large.

The province says non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures will “cautiously resume” following a planned phased approach across Ontario.

Hospitals will continue to work in partnership to ensure that all regions have the capacity to resume services and “no one is left behind,” says the province.

“Thanks to the sacrifices of Ontarians and unwavering efforts of our health care workers, we are now in a position to resume additional surgeries and procedures,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health in a news release. “We recognize the impact these measures have had on patients and together with our hospital partners we will ensure patients can continue to access the health care they need when they need it.”

In early January, hospitals were ordered to pause all non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures in order to free up staff to cover absences and manage the rising number of hospitalizations.

The province says there has been a steady decline in COVID-19-related hospitalizations and ICU admissions in addition to stabilizing health human resources.