Mississippi requiring hospitals to halt elective surgeries

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi’s coronavirus hospitalizations continue to surpass records.

The state’s top health official said Friday that hospitals full with COVID-19 patients can no longer handle elective surgeries, and he’s requiring the facilities to start postponing many of the procedures next week.

Dr. Thomas Dobbs is Mississippi’s state health officer. Dobbs tweeted that the state’s intensive care unit beds are full and he expects more hospitalizations of coronavirus patients.

Dobbs’ order requires a specific list of elective surgery types that involve overnight hospitalization to be delayed starting Tuesday, at least until Dec. 23.

The list of procedures include colonoscopies, knee replacements and certain cancer surgeries.