More than four in five Americans consider visits to medical facilities risky right now given the potential of being exposed to COVID-19. When asked how they would feel if they needed medical treatment, 42% of U.S. adults interviewed last week said they would be “very concerned” about being exposed to the novel coronavirus at a doctor’s office or hospital, and another 41% said they would be “moderately concerned.” Just 17% would be “not too concerned” or “not concerned at all.”…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.” These conditions include chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, serious heart conditions, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, severe obesity and various conditions that can cause a person to be immune compromised.

Despite these warnings, the latest Gallup Panel study finds that adults aged 65 and older are not more concerned than younger adults about visiting a medical office, as evidenced by the percentages “very concerned.”