Is a "COVID-19-free" hospital the answer to resuming elective surgery during the current pandemic? Results from the first available prospective study.

Background: Resumption of elective surgery during the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic crisis has been debated widely and largely discouraged. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to assess the feasibility of resuming elective operations during the current and possible future peaks of this coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Methods: We collected data during the peak of the current pandemic in the United Kingdom on adult patients who underwent elective surgery in a "COVID-19-free" hospital from April 8 to May 29, 2020.