A recent survey found that, despite a significant decline in COVID-19 patients and the presence of safety measures, a majority of New Jersey's older adults are still concerned about entering hospitals for non-coronavirus-related treatments, according to an article on the New Jersey Hospital Association website.

As of September 2020, COVID-19 admissions represented less than 5 percent of total patients in the state's medical facilities, down from its height in April 2020, when 20 percent of admissions were COVID-19 cases.

The survey, conducted from Sept. 8 to 18, 2020, 83 percent of New Jersey adults (50+) are either "extremely concerned" (23 percent), "very concerned" (27 percent), or "somewhat concerned" (34 percent) about the risk of coronavirus if they need to visit a hospital for services unrelated to COVID-19 in the coming weeks.

Despite being hesitant to return to hospitals, New Jersey residents feel highly confident in the safety measures that hospitals are taking to keep their patients safe.

Hospitals around the U.S. are already looking ahead to flu season, according to an article on the Observer-Reporter website. Some hospitals are stockpiling personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, face shields and gowns. The pandemic already has strained the worldwide supply of PPE, including masks, face shields and gowns.

Read the full New Jersey Hospital Association article.