In April, 42% less people visited emergency departments (EDs) across the United States than in April last year, according to data published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.This significant drop-off, which took place while most states had stay-at-home orders, translates to millions of dollars lost by US hospitals still fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and Americans becoming at risk for worsening outcomes for non-COVID emergencies.The data were collected from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program' electronic health data in real time.
Visits dropped from a mean of 2.1 million per week (Mar 31 to Apr 27, 2019) to 1.2 million per week (Mar 29 to Apr 25, 2020).The biggest drop-off in patients was among children 14 years old