Novant to resume some non-emergency surgeries as COVID-19 cases have ‘stabilized’
Novant Health announced plans to resume some non-emergency surgeries and appointments starting May 4, after the hospital system says the number of COVID-19 patients has “stabilized.”
And clinics will begin taking appointments that were delayed, starting with pediatric well checks, chronic disease and acute issue visits, according to Novant.
The announcement comes hours before N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper was expected to make an announcement on when COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted.
Non-emergency and non-time sensitive surgeries at Novant were paused on March 18 in wake of the new coronavirus outbreak.
“The number of patients receiving care for COVID-19 within our facilities has stabilized, and our team stands ready to care for the community,” Novant CEO Carl Armato said in a statement. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Novant recommends all patients wear cloth masks or face coverings to appointments, according to a statement. Charlotte’s biggest hospital system, Atrium Health, announced Thursday it is now requiring anyone entering its facilities to wear a mask.
The announcement to resume some surgeries and procedures comes as Novant says it has seen “a worrisome decline” in patients getting care for certain conditions like heart attacks and strokes.
“Since the onset of the coronavirus in our communities, some of our patients have delayed seeking care out of an abundance of caution,” Armato said in the statement. “Putting off care indefinitely, is simply not good for our patients – and in some cases, deadly.”
Atrium Health has not yet announced if it will resume non-emergency surgeries.
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