Australia eases restrictions on elective surgeries after slowing coronavirus spread

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia will relax restrictions on elective surgeries after slowing the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday.

Australia had in March banned all non-emergency elective surgeries to free-up hospital beds amid expectations of a surge in coronavirus cases.

But in recent days, Australia has seen growth of less than 1% in new coronavirus cases, allowing Canberra to expand the number of surgeries that are permitted.

(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)