Elective surgery cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic: global predictive modelling to inform surgical recovery plans: Elective surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to major disruption of routine hospital services globally1. During the
pandemic hospitals have reduced elective surgery in
the interests of patient safety and supporting the wider
response2–4. Reducing elective activities protects patients
from in-hospital viral transmission and associated postoperative pulmonary complications. This preserves personal protective equipment supplies to be prioritized for the care of patients with COVID-19, and releases ward and critical care beds for surges in such patients. It also enables recovery areas in theatre suites to be repurposed as overflow
ICUs. Surgeons and theatres teams may be redeployed to
support other critical areas of the hospital.