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Easing restrictions on elective surgeries

28 Apr 2020

Q. On 21 April, the Prime Minister announced that the National Cabinet had agreed to ease some restrictions from the weekend onwards. These include resuming elective surgery, IVF treatments, and allowing residents of aged care facilities to receive two visitors a day. Do you think it is the right time to ease these restrictions, have they been eased too soon, or has it taken too long for them to be eased?

  Total Age Group
  18-34 35-54 55+
Restrictions have been eased too soon 36% 44% 40% 26%
Right time to ease these restrictions 57% 49% 54% 67%
It has taken too long for them to be eased 7% 7% 7% 7%
Base (n) 1,054 343 332 379
  • 57% of participants believe it’s the right time to ease restrictions on elective surgeries and aged care facility visitation – but a third (36%) think they have been eased too soon.
  • 18-34 year olds are most likely to say the restrictions have been eased too soon (44%, 33% for 35+); whereas, 67% of those over 55 think now is the right time.
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