Researchers in the United Kingdom suggest that 7 weeks appears to be the ideal time to delay surgery following the diagnosis of COVID-19, when possible.

Investigators noted that the risk for death was nearly 3.5 to 4 times higher in the first 6 weeks following surgery among over 3000 people with a preoperative COVID-19 diagnosis compared to patients without COVID-19. After a duration of 7 weeks, the 30-day mortality rate was shown to decline to a baseline level. Surgery should be delayed further for individuals who continue to have symptoms at 7 weeks after diagnosis. The study was published online March 9 in Anaesthesia… (Medscape)