Residents urged to stop calling 911, going to ER for non-emergency COVID-19 symptoms

WAUKESHA -- Waukesha County residents are being asked to avoid calling 911 or going to the emergency room unless they are experiencing a life-safety emergency.

According to the Waukesha County Office of the County Executive, the first step to address most health concerns that may be related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is to call your doctor or healthcare provider for medical information or call 211 to be connected with non-profit or government services.

"Hospitals, doctors offices, and public health providers are experiencing unprecedented call volume from the public. Unnecessarily contacting emergency services with questions that can be answered online at sites such as www.waukeshacounty.gov/COVID19 or by calling 211 impedes their ability to help individuals who may have life-threatening conditions," said the Waukesha County Office of the County Executive in a news release.

Most people with symptoms should STAY HOME to prevent the spread of and exposure to COVID-19:

When to call 911 or go to the Emergency Room: 

How can I get tested for COVID-19? 

For more information and resources about COVID-19 in Waukesha County, please visit www.waukeshacounty.gov/COVID19. To find more information about the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Waukesha County, visit the WI DHS Outbreaks page.