Is fear of the coronavirus driving people away from the hospital?

Many doctors are seeing a trend that has them concerned: people are putting off a visit to the emergency room.

It's a concerning trend among local doctors.

People who won't go to the emergency room when they need to.

W-t-v-a's alisa anderson joins us live with why doctors say people are skipping the e-r.

(i'm live here at....) i spoke with cardiologist barry bertolet who told me the answer is fear.

People are scared of possible exposure to the coronavirus.

He said north mississippi health services emergency room doctors are seeing a decrease in patients with stroke and heart attack symptoms. dr. barry bertolet cardiologist, vice president ms healthcare alliance "there are more people dying of heart attack and strokes now than who would ordinarily be dying because of pure fear of coronavirus and not coming to the emergency room."

Dr. barry bertolet is a cardiologist who works at cardiology associates of north mississippi and sees patients at north mississippi medical center.

He said they are seeing heart attack and stroke patients foregoing the hospital because they are scared of possible exposure to coronavirus.

However, when it comes to these type of emergencies, timing is everything.

Sot: dr. barry bertolet cardiologist, vice president ms healthcare alliance "what we're concerned about is heart attack patients either dying or having heart failure symptoms as a result of it and the stroke patients not getting that early therapy.

" at north mississippi health services bertolet said there is a 20 percent decrease in patients coming in with heart attack symptoms. and a 40 percent drop in patients with stroke symptoms during this time period last year.

Bertolet wants to remind everyone that they are taking precautions to minimize the risk of exposure to coronavirus.

Sot: dr. barry bertolet cardiologist, vice president ms healthcare alliance "come to the emergency room.

They are safe.

They are putting the coronvirus suspected patients in different areas.

Dr. bertolet said if you have chest pain, facial drooping, or shortness of breath those are all signs you need to go to hospital.

Live in tupelo.

Im alisa anderson w-t-v-a 9 news.

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