Matthew Anderson, President and CEO, Ontario Health has released on May 7, 2020, an updated Measured Approach to Planning for Surgeries and Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic identifying recommendations for reintroducing scheduled surgical and procedural work, as well as the basis on which to prioritize this work. The recommendations provided in this document have since supported thoughtful collaboration and planning across Ontario.
On May 26, 2020, Directive #2 for Health Care Providers was amended and reissued by the Chief Medical Officer of Health, along with operational requirements, in support of a gradual restart of deferred services. While Ontario may be very slowly gaining the upper hand in this pandemic and hospitals are gradually opening up scheduled surgical and procedural work, we must remain ready to provide care for patients with COVID-19 in the case of a next wave. They also are continuing to ask hospitals to execute on their plans for assisting in long-term care.
