Nuvance Health hospitals and ambulatory care centers in Danbury, New Milford, Norwalk and Sharon are reopening for elective surgeries and endoscopy procedures as the region observes a decrease in the rate of new COVID-19 infections.  They will resume a limited number of elective surgeries and procedures starting with high-priority patients and those most acutely in need.

Nuvance officials say extensive measures have been put in place to promote safety from arrival through discharge to home or next steps care. 

There's a comprehensive screening process for all patients, which will now include procedural patients.  This includes mandatory COVID-19 testing for patients scheduled for a surgical procedure.  Patients are required to have negative test results within two days of their procedure, and they must self-isolate and follow stringent safety precautions to avoid possible infection between testing and the procedure date itself.   

The hospitals and ambulatory centers are continuing visitor restrictions.  Any COVID-19 patients in the hospitals will be treated in a separate area.