Pandemic caused strain on ER, urgent care centers

Emergency rooms are filling up during the pandemic and according to the COVID Tracking Project -- the majority of states nationwide are experiencing record numbers of hospitalizations.

EMERGENCY ROOMS ARE FILLING UPDURING THEPANDEMIC..

AND ACCORDING TO THECOVID TRACKINGPROJECT -- THE MAJORITY OFSTATES NATIONWIDE AREEXPERIENCING RECORD NUMBERS OFHOSPITALIZATIONS.AND IT'S HAVING AN IMPACT ON ALLDEPARTMENTS -- INCLUDING THEE-R..EXPERTS SAY THE HIGH NUMBER OFPATIENTS HASN'T STOPPED THENUMBER OF EMERGENCY CALLS.THEY'RE ALSO SEEING MORE VISITSFROM PEOPLE WHOBELIEVE THEY HAVE COVID OR NEEDTESTING.

WITH THE STRAIN ON E-RAND STAFF -- OFFICIALS URGEPEOPLE TO THINKABOUT WHETHER WE REALLY NEED TOGO TO THE HOSPITAL -- OR IFYOU CAN BE TREATED SOMEWHEREELSE."THINGS THAT AN URGENT CARE CANHANDLE COULD BE THINGS LIKE ASPRAINED ANKLE OR A SPRAINEDWRIST OR A PULLED MUSCLE OR EVENA CUT OR ALACERATION, OR SOMETHING TO THATEFFECTANOTHER RULE OF THUMB IS IF YOUCAN SEE YOURSELF GOING HOMEAFTER YOUR VISIT... THEN IT'SBETTER TO GO TO AN URGENTCARE.SINCE SOME OF THE STRAIN ONE-R'S IS DUE TO COVID... PEOPLEARE ENCOURAGED TO LOOK UP OTHERTESTING SITES.A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS T