Alberta's COVID-19-related backlog in surgeries reduced, additional non-hospital facilities planned

Health Minister Tyler Shandro says Alberta's plan to increase the number of surgeries conducted in the province has greatly reduced the number of patients awaiting procedures. According to the province, the decision to place surgeries on hold from March 18 through May 14 — a move made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic — led to a backlog of nearly 25,000 procedures. Since the resumption of surgeries in mid-May,  Shandro says nearly 88 per cent of the backlog in procedures has