Bluewater Health is encouraging people with serious health concerns to still come to the emergency department.
Chief of Staff Dr. Mike Haddad said the volume of visits has dropped to around 50 per cent.
"I know we've been very busy with the COVID pandemic for the past six weeks," said Haddad. "Having said this, COVID-related illness is not the only thing that affects us. We still have patients who have, unfortunately, strokes, heart attacks, get short of breath, asthma attacks etc. and they need to seek urgent attention in the ED."
Haddad is concerned patients are delaying care because they're worried about coming to the hospital during the pandemic.
"Anecdotally I've had many physicians come up to me and say, 'I wish he or she would have come in a few days earlier because they were sitting on this for awhile.' Either short of breath or having infection symptoms and just got worse."
Haddad said the ER is open 24/7, it's very clean and safe and if you need attention it's the place to be.
"Fortunately over the past two weeks we've seen a decrease in the number of COVID patients. We peaked at 32 patients, we're down to 12 patients. But, to keep things in perspective, it's a 300-bed hospital and it's not like the other illnesses stop happening. So, it is a safe place. If you need to be here, then we'll take care of you."
Haddad said delaying care could lead to worse outcomes.
