PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and other regional providers are asking those with non-emergency medical needs to stay away from the Emergency Room.
Surging COVID-19 hospitalizations and increased patient demands have stretched staffs thin.
Emergency room visits or 911 calls should be limited to those with serious and life-threatening emergencies like chest pain, difficulty breathing, head or eye injuries, sudden loss of or blurry vision, major fractures or loss of consciousness.
People with other conditions or illnesses are asked to seek care at primary, same-day or urgent care clinics.