Coronavirus: MN Hospitals Must Delay 'Non-Essential' Surgeries

TWIN CITIES, MN — Gov. Tim Walz Thursday signed Executive Order 20-09, ordering health care providers to postpone elective surgeries and procedures, including non-emergent elective dental procedures, to focus health care capacity and equipment on responding to new coronavirus cases and other emergencies.

Walz's office says the order complies with guidance from the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention asking hospitals to delay elective surgeries and procedures to conserve health care resources and to reduce contact between patients and providers.

"The greatest risk we face during the COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming our health care systems and limiting their ability to respond to emerging cases," Walz said in a statement.

"This executive order keeps more health care resources open and prioritizes life-saving intervention for COVID-19 patients and other emergency care."

Elective surgeries and procedure must be postponed indefinitely beginning at 5 p.m. on March 23.

A non-essential surgery or procedure is defined as a surgery or procedure that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of a patient. Surgeries and procedures that prevent loss of life, permanent dysfunction of an organ or extremity, or risk of metastasis or progression of staging for non-COVID-19 patients should not be postponed under this order, according to a news release.

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