Elective surgery restrictions eased: What we learned from Scott Morrison's press conference.

On Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was joined by Health Minister Greg Hunt to give an update on the current state of COVID-19 in Australia.

During the press conference, the Prime Minister announced that 25 per cent of elective surgeries will resume across Australia after Anzac Day.

He also noted that it’s important for older people who are self-isolating in the community to continue to receive visits from those who would normally care for them.

Watch: Mamamia’s The Quicky host Claire Murphy breaks down your most asked questions about COVID-19. Post continues below.

Here are the key points from the Prime Minister’s press conference on Tuesday, April 21.

‘We’re still very much in the middle.’

Opening this afternoon’s press conference, the Prime Minister said that Australia is still “very much in the middle” of combating the coronavirus.

Pointing to Singapore as an example of where a country has experienced a second wave of cases, Morrison reiterated the need to “stick to our plan” and continue following social distancing requirements in the near future.

He also added that restrictions will be eased once certain markers are met.

“We laid down some clear markers as to what the requirements would be. We said there needed to be an effective rate of transmission less than the score of 1. And we said we need to get in place over these four weeks that we’re now in – almost one week down in that timetable – of testing, tracing and a response capability on the ground.”

Some restrictions lifted on elective surgery.

Following a meeting this morning, the National Cabinet has agreed to lift some restrictions on elective surgery after Anzac Day.

Under the new conditions, all category two elective surgeries, including IVF and joint replacement surgery for children under the age of 18, will reopen.

Other procedures that will be able to continue include eye procedures, endoscopy and colonoscopies, post-cancer procedures such as breast reconstruction and some dental work including fitting dentures and braces.

#BREAKING: Restrictions on elective surgery will be gradually lifted following the Anzac Day long weekend, says Scott Morrison. #9News

Read more: https://t.co/35NEPF62eQ pic.twitter.com/KHnI0mror4

— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) April 21, 2020

“This will not mean an immediate return to normal with elective surgery, but a gradual restart, subject to of course to capacity and other constraints that may exist in each jurisdiction,” Morrison said.

“One of the reasons why we have been able to do that, is the increase in the amount of personal protective equipment that we have been able to secure. But we will be easing the restrictions on the following areas. That is all Category 2 or equivalent procedures in the private sector, and selected Category 3 and other procedures, which includes all IVF, all screening programs, where they have ceased.”

Health Minister Greg Hunt added that Australia has secured more than 100 million masks, which allows restrictions around elective surgery to be eased.

You can still visit older people to care for them.

On aged care, the Prime Minister announced that in states where visits to aged care homes have been restricted, those rules will be eased so that they can have two visits per day.

“We reviewed recent events in a number of aged care facilities and took the lessons from those cases and an important one is the finding was that we are very concerned about the impact of restrictions that had been put in place in aged care facilities over and above what was recommended by the National Cabinet on the residents in those facilities,” he said.

“There is great concern that the isolation of elderly people in residential care facilities where they have been prevented from having any visitors from loved ones and support people is not good for their well-being, is not good for their health and so the National Cabinet agreed that there needs to be a strong reminder that the National Cabinet decision was to not shut people off or to lock them away in their rooms.”

Morrison also reiterated that older people who are self-isolating in the community can still receive visits from family members or neighbours who would normally provide care for them.

Listen to the latest episode of Mamamia’s daily news podcast, The Quicky, below. Post continues after podcast.

Four square metre rule not applicable to classrooms.

The Prime Minister has clarified that the four square metre rule for social distancing does not apply to classrooms.

“That is not the advice and any suggestion that this is a requirement for schools is not the case,” Morrison said.

“The recommendation was smaller class sizes, not smaller classrooms, smaller class sizes and that those smaller class sizes is something that can be practically addressed at the school level but there is no requirement from the medical expert panel that there be a four-square-metre per person rule enforced in those classrooms.”

The COVID-19 tracing app will be released in the “not too distant future”.

Scott Morrison added that the government’s COVID-19 tracing app is currently in development, and will be released in the “not too distant future”.

He did not provide an exact date for the app’s release.

Morrison was also asked whether other social distancing restrictions could be lifted soon.

“The decision of the National Cabinet remains. We will keep the restrictions in place at a baseline level,” he said.

We now have a “sustained and consolidated” flattening of the curve.

Health Minister Greg Hunt reiterated that we now have a “sustained and consolidated flattening of the curve”.

“Less than one per cent growth in cases for nine consecutive days and over the last three days we have had averaged less than half a per cent of growth,” he said.

“This is a collective national achievement but every Australian has been contributing and I want to say thank you for what people have done. You have made this happen.”

For more on COVID-19:

• What you need to know about COVID-19 today, Tuesday April 21.
  

To protect yourself and the community from COVID-19, remain in your home unless strictly necessary, keep at least 1.5 metres away from other people, regularly wash your hands and avoid touching your face.

If you are sick and believe you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your GP ahead of time to book an appointment. Or call the national Coronavirus Health Information Line for advice on 1800 020 080. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000. 

To keep up to date with the latest information, please visit the Department of Health website.

Feature Image: AAP.

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