Nearly 41 percent of American adults delayed or avoided emergency, urgent, or routine medical care because of fear of contracting COVID-19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
Of the 40.9 percent who avoided care, 12 percent needed urgent or emergency medical attention. Most of the 12 percent were unpaid caregivers, those with chronic conditions or disabilities, and black or Hispanic adults.
One-third of the 40.9 percent who missed care reported not being able to do so because of community mitigation efforts and stay-at-home orders.
The report is based on a survey of 5,412 of 9,896 eligible adults who completed the web-based COVID-19 Outbreak Public Evaluation Initiative Survey between June 24 and June 30.
The study, released on September 11, states self-reported data has limitations and that more exploration is needed to confirm why people avoided care.
—Staff reports
