Based on the current epidemiology of COVID-19 in B.C., people who are scheduled for surgery and do not have risk factors for or symptoms of COVID-19 should not be considered suspect cases. This is based on the advice of the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), the Office of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) and the Provincial Infection Control Network of BC (PICNet), and is key to easing restrictions on surgical services. BCCDC, PHO, and PICNet review the epidemiology on a regular basis and will amend or update this advice as required. As such, the decision to proceed with surgical procedures and the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used should be based on an individual COVID-19 patient risk assessment which includes: assessing risk factors, screening for symptoms, and COVID-19 testing if clinically indicated. In most cases, patients who do not have risk factors for, or symptoms consistent with COVID-19 do not require a COVID-19 test. For more information please read Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Protocol for Surgical Procedures During COVID-19: Adult. (Last updated: May 25)
Protocol for Management of Surgical Patients
(Last updated: May 25)
Patient Risk Category Table
(Last updated: May 22)
