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U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams. Photo: Chris Usher/CBS via Getty Images
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams is asking hospitals to consider stopping elective surgeries as the coronavirus spreads.
What Adams is saying: "Hospital & healthcare systems, PLEASE CONSIDER STOPPING ELECTIVE PROCEDURES until we can #FlattenTheCurve! Each elective surgery you do: 1) Brings possible #Coronavirus to your facilities 2) Pulls from PPE stores 3) Taxes personnel who may be needed for #COVIDー19 response," Adams tweeted on Saturday morning.
The state of play: Some hospitals already had started canceling or postponing elective surgeries, MarketWatch writes.
- UCSF Health hospitals are postponing up to 7,000 appointments a day, per MarketWatch.
- Doctors have noted high risk or elderly patients are currently canceling elective surgeries, such as knee replacements, that require general anesthesia, Modern Healthcare reports.
Go deeper: Coronavirus updates: House passes coronavirus emergency aid package