The state of Pennsylvania told hospitals it will not provide them with masks, gloves and other protective equipment if they choose to resume elective surgeries, according to an article on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette website.
The priority has shifted to nursing homes, where most of the state’s COVID-19 deaths have occurred.
On March 20, state officials hospitals canceled or postponed elective procedures in an effort to reserve beds, ventilators and other resources for coronavirus patients.
A month later, as at least one major health system pressed ahead without state approval, the order was updated, allowing hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to resume elective procedures, as long as they could do so without compromising COVID-19 response.
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