WHEELING — Wheeling Hospital officials aren’t certain yet when medical staff there can resume doing elective surgeries, and they are awaiting approval from the state to begin.

“We would like to begin doing priority testing as early as next week,” Wheeling Hospital CEO Douglass Harrison said Tuesday.

“We are submitting our information to the state now.”

He and hospital officials would not say how many surgical procedures have been canceled or postponed at Wheeling Hospital during the past five weeks.

Elective surgeries at hospitals in West Virginia have been barred since March 16, when a state of emergency was declared in West Virginia due to the coronavirus emergency.

An executive order signed Monday by Gov. Jim Justice permits hospitals to again offer non-emergency surgeries as early as next Tuesday, but hospitals must apply for approval.

The order signed by Justice states hospitals regulated by the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification must submit to that agency a plan indicating prioritization of surgery scheduling.

“The established plan and all policies governing resumption of more urgent elective medical procedures ensure services can be timely and effectively adjusted in response to any change in public health condition or surge in COVID-19 cases,” the order states.

A hospital also must provide proof they have enough necessary personal protective equipment for staff and patients, equipment and medicine to last at least 14 days, and that they will be conserving supplies.

OHFLAC is to review applications, and determine whether criteria has been met before providing approval to a hospital to reopen.