New cases drop into single digits
SWAN Hill’s COVID-19 numbers have eased substantially, with just one new case recorded yesterday, bringing the active total to 38.
The numbers were significantly down on Wednesday’s 14 cases as schools returned to face-to-face learning.
It came as Victoria posted another 34 COVID-related deaths and 12,157 new cases yesterday.
But in a more positive sign, while COVID-19 hospitalisations were predicted to peak as high as 2500, numbers dipped below 1000 last week and fell further yesterday to 752
Intensive care figures across the state also dropped to 82 patients, with 29 of those on a ventilator.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Wednesday the resumption of non-urgent elective surgery was yet to be settled, despite private hospitals being told a ban could be lifted as early as next week.
In a letter to doctors on Tuesday, Ramsay Health Care Victorian manager Austin Wills said the private provider had been given advice the state’s pause on most elective surgery would soon be repealed.
“At this point, (the Department of Health) have indicated that restrictions will be revised from urgent only to 50 per cent of allocated lists from the middle of next week,” he wrote.
“We expect to receive formal confirmation of this change by the end of this week.”
Category two and three elective surgery was paused earlier this month as Victoria’s ailing health system prepared for an influx of COVID-19 patients amid the Omicron wave.
Mr Andrews said “no one’s rushing” the return of less urgent elective surgery and the state government was still consulting with the industry.
“We think it is possible to resume some services in a staggered way,” he said on Wednesday.
“We’ll make the announcements when we’ve listened, when we’ve got all that feedback and we have determined how it is, we will recommence those services. Nothing will be done that isn’t safe.”
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation argues the ban should be maintained as a protective measure to ensure elective surgery patients don’t require intensive care and there is adequate surge workforce capacity.
A recent survey of 50,000 public sector members found almost 40 per cent of nurses and midwives want to take annual leave in February, March and April, and ANMF Vic Branch Acting Secretary Paul Gilbert said workers needed time to recharge.
