Doctors give advice for whether you should get help if you don't have a coronavirus issue

[Hearst News, April 30, 2020] As hospitals nationwide braced for a surge of COVID-19 cases, other patients seemingly disappeared. Patients are wondering whether it's still safe to go to the hospital if you have an emergency not related to COVID-19.

A new study by a dozen doctors at nine U.S. hospitals found a 38% drop in heart patients.

Dr. Santiago Garcia, of the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Allina Health's Abbott Northwestern Hospital, who helped lead the study, says the results worry him.

"I think we had a risk of losing two decades of progress," Garcia said. "Don't play, doctor. If you are in doubt, please call us."