NSW: Elective surgeries to resume as Dominic Perrottet introduces new support package for businesses

Elective surgeries WILL return in NSW – as Dominic Perrottet promises to clear the backlog and introduce new support package for businesses

  • NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has introduced a new business support package
  • Funds will go to small and medium businesses struggling due to Omicron wave 
  • Mr Perrottet also revealed elective surgeries will resume as soon as possible  


NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has revealed the resumption of elective surgeries is imminent as he promises businesses reeling from the effects of the Omicron wave of Covid will get fresh support within a week.

The state Labor opposition says a business support package is urgently needed to lift small and medium-sized businesses out of the summer’s ‘shadow lockdown’ as the rampant virus keeps workers and customers at home.

Mr Perrottet says Treasurer Matt Kean is working with stakeholder groups and industry ‘to make sure the support that we provide … during his period has impact’.

‘It will be within a week,’ the premier told Sydney radio 2GB on Tuesday.

‘Our focus … has always been to put businesses and workers before the budget … and we will continue to do that.’

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced electives surgeries will resume as soon as possible. Pictured: Health workers arrive at RPA Hospital in Camperdown

He also promised non-urgent elective surgery would resume as soon as possible after an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report found the median wait time for procedures blew out to 48 days in the 2020/21 financial year, an increase of nine days compared to the previous year.

Mr Perrottet said the government would commit funding to clear the surgery backlog when the pressure had eased on NSW public hospitals.

‘As soon as we … get advice from our medical teams that we can bring that non-urgent elective surgery back we will do so,’ he said.

‘It’s a key focus of ours … that we would get that back on track as quickly as possible.’

He also welcomed news from the World Health Organisation that the global health Covid health emergency could end this year if 70 per cent of the world’s population gets vaccinated.

Mr Perrottet says about 40 per cent of the eligible population in NSW has received a booster shot and Covid infections are plateauing, while hospitalisations are also stabilising.

‘There’s a long way to go but I think that there’s no doubt that these signs … that are coming out of the WHO and global evidence is incredibly pleasing,’ he said.

The NSW Premier has promised a new support package for small and medium businesses reeling from the Omicron wave

The NSW Premier has promised a new support package for small and medium businesses reeling from the Omicron wave 

Mr Perrottet said the state's Covid infections are plateauing - despite a 3241 jump in cases overnight

Mr Perrottet said the state’s Covid infections are plateauing – despite a 3241 jump in cases overnight 

There were 18,512 new Covid cases recorded on Tuesday and a further 29 deaths – a jump of 3241 from the daily infections on Monday.

NSW hospitalisation figures rising to a record 2,943 up from 2,816, while the state’s ICU rates have fallen from 196 to 183. 

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the spread of the virus appeared to be slowing and ‘our situation is stabilising’.

But staying up to date with vaccinations and taking precautions, such as wearing masks, remained important.

‘My clear view is boosters are essential,’ Dr Chant said.

Two in three NSW adults are yet to have a third dose while 52.2 per cent of children aged five to 15 are unvaccinated.

One in 35 NSW residents is considered an active Covid case, down from one in 24 a week ago. 

The state recorded 24 Covid deaths on Monday. 

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk