MedStar said that in March, however, cardiac arrest cases were only slightly more than last year. According to MedStar, the increase in response volume for patients who are likely having a heart attack could be a sign that normalcy is returning. MedStar said crews were concerned during 2020 with the decline in daily response volume for potential heart attack victims, fearing people may be afraid to call 911 due to COVID-19 and that leading to cardiac arrest cases. According to an article by the American College of Cardiology, “Deaths from ischemic heart disease and hypertensive diseases in the United States increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.”