Coronavirus lockdowns include bans on “elective” surgery, even though many hospitals are mostly empty. By banning elective surgery, states not only deprive suffering people of healthcare, but also cause layoffs of healthcare workers. Meanwhile, most hospitals have beds to spare, and enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to handle coronavirus patients. Banning elective surgery doesn’t conserve PPE for coronavirus patients because the personal protective equipment used to treat coronavirus patients is not the same as the equipment used in elective surgery.
Yet, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam recently extended his ban on elective surgeries for yet another week, blocking 15,000 more surgeries.
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