Following this morning’s National Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke to the press in Canberra on the topics of elective surgery and aged care facility restrictions.
He confirmed that the requirements for easing nationwide restrictions would be an effective rate of transmission that is less than than the score of one, and highlighted that we only are in the first week of the four weeks projected by the Government.
Should States and Territories have restrictions that are stricter than the baseline recommended by the Government, then they may choose to lift these earlier to meet that baseline.
Elective Surgery
Elective surgery restrictions will be lifted after the ANZAC day weekend. The restart will be gradual and subject to capacity and other jurisdiction constraints.
All category one and two or equivalent procedures in private sector will be restarted, alongside some urgent category three procedures such as IVF, screening programs and post cancer reconstruction procedures such as breast reconstruction.
Dental level two procedures such as basic fillings will also become available, alongside procedures for under 18s, orthopaedic procedures on joints, cataracts, endoscopies, and colonoscopies.
This will reopen up to 25% of elective surgery procedures.
“This marks another step on the way back, there is a road ahead, this wouldn’t be possible if we weren’t able to secure addition PPE or have confidence on the social distancing measures,” Mr Morrison says.
Aged care
Mr Morrison also spoke on aged care facilities instilling restrictive measures that are far above what the Federal Government recommends.
Noting that facilities that are not allowing any visitors and shutting residents in their rooms shows a lack of support for the elderly wellbeing.
The National Cabinet does not recommend locking residents away from their families, but ensuring that visits are safe through appropriate health measure taken.
All providers are encouraged to screen visitors but to allow visitors, up to two a day from family.
He also says that exceptional restrictions are only recommended if there’s an outbreak in the facility or the area.
Schools
The Prime Minister also confirmed that the health advice form the medical experts panel does not deem four square metres in classes a requirement.
He says that the recommendation is for smaller class sizes, which is practically addressed by most schools.
More to come.
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