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COVID-19 Facts and Resources

COVID-19 Information for Our Patients

  • 丹娜—法伯患者陪护须知




  • When you visit Dana-Farber, we'll ask you to use an online app on your smartphone as part of the screening process when you enter the building. Everyone who comes to Dana-Farber is screened for COVID-19 symptoms before they enter. Before you arrive at these locations, visit the app and answer its screening questions to get a digital pass that you can show when you enter.

    If you have COVID-like symptoms or have tested positive for COVID in the last 20 days, please call your Dana-Farber doctor's office before your appointment. Please read this PDF for more information.

  • Patient Companions at Dana-Farber

    Adult patients are allowed to bring one healthy adult companion (age 18 or older) to any outpatient appointment at Dana-Farber. Companions age 17 and younger are not permitted.

    Pediatric patients in our Jimmy Fund Clinic are allowed to bring up to two healthy adult companions (age 18 or older) to outpatient appointments. Visitors age 17 and younger, including siblings, are not permitted.

    Face masks are still required in hospitals and other health care settings for all persons, regardless of whether you have been vaccinated. Please use the face mask that we give you when you arrive, and make sure that it always covers your mouth and nose during your visit.

    Please be mindful of others during your visit, and try to maintain safe physical distancing while you are here. Cancer centers such as ours see patients who are more vulnerable than the general public, so our steps to prevent infection need to be stronger than in other settings.

    All persons will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 before entering. Please use our prescreen app before you arrive. If you do not have a smartphone or cannot access the app, we will help you complete the screening process when you arrive.

    If there is not enough space for needed physical distancing in a patient care area, the companion may be asked to wait in a designated area until the patient's appointment is complete.

    We encourage patients who would like to have more than one companion to use a smartphone or other mobile device to video call a friend or loved one when meeting with their care team. This can be a good way for another companion to participate in the visit by asking questions, taking notes, and providing support. Wireless internet access is available in all patient care areas.

    Please Be Aware of Your Arrival Time

    Please do not arrive more than 20 minutes before your first scheduled appointment when you need to visit Dana-Farber in person. This helps reduce the number of people in the building and ensures safe physical distancing throughout the facility. If you arrive too early, we may need to direct you to a waiting area after you complete the screening process.

  • Monoclonal antibodies and antiviral therapies are available for our adult patients at Dana-Farber’s Longwood Campus in limited quantities. These therapies can help your immune system fight COVID-19.

    You may be eligible for these treatments if you are categorized as being at high risk for complications from COVID-19 infection. If you have questions, please call 617-632-6843.

    • Dana-Farber may offer remdesivir to COVID-19-positive patients. This is an FDA-approved antiviral therapy administered by IV infusion. Please review the FDA’s patient/caregiver factsheet (PDF) to learn more.
    • AstraZeneca’s Evusheld monoclonal antibody therapy is designed to help prevent COVID-19 in people with suppressed immune systems who may not get enough virus protection from vaccines and boosters. Talk with your Dana-Farber care team about whether you may be eligible for Evusheld.
    • Paxlovid is an antiviral medication developed by Pfizer designed to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease in people who are at high risk for severe COVID-19. If you test positive for COVID-19, talk with your Dana-Farber care team about whether Paxlovid might be right for you.

    To learn more about COVID-19 therapies:

    • At Longwood (450 Brookline Ave., Boston): Please enter Dana-Farber's parking garage on Jimmy Fund Way and go to Level P1 to drop off or pick up a patient. You can also use valet parking on Level P1.
    • At Chestnut Hill (300 Boylston St., Newton, MA): Please enter the Life Time Center parking garage and go to Level P3 to pick up or drop off a patient. You can also use valet parking on Level P3.

    Thank you for your cooperation and help!

  • In order to limit the number of people at Dana-Farber, some of our programs and services have temporarily changed.

    • The Friends' Place health boutique is open by appointment only. Please call 617-632-2211 if you need to schedule an appointment for a compression garment, wig fitting, breast prosthesis, bra fitting, or other service.
    • Seating in the Lavine Family Dining Pavilion has been reconfigured for physical distancing.
    • All Dana-Farber volunteers have been asked to suspend activities and will not be at the Institute until further notice.
    • The Zakim Center's programs in yoga, mindfulness, and other topics are available online. You can review the Center's Program Calendar to see online class offerings.
    • The Blum Resource Center offers workshops and programs online. Check the Blum Resource Center webpage for more information.
    • One-to-One is a telephone support program that connects our trained volunteers with patients and caregivers who would like support from a peer. To request a mentor, patients and caregivers can fill out a referral form.
    • Visit the Friends' Corner Gift Shop online.
    • Dana-Farber's Young Adult Program (YAP) invites young adult patients (age 18-39) treated in adult oncology to join its online support group and Twitter chats. For more information about online programming, please email yap@dfci.harvard.edu or call 617-632-6819.
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  • Self-Care for Patients and Caregivers

    Both patients and their caregivers need to practice self-care for emotional and physical well-being in this challenging time. Read helpful information on coping day-to-day with COVID-19 uncertainty.

    Online Programs for Patients

    The Zakim Center is open for in-person acupuncture and massage appointments, but also offers many virtual programs online via its MyZakim portal. Learn how to practice mindfulness, improve an exercise routine, plan healthy meals, and much more. Sign up on MyZakim or email Zakim_Center@dfci.harvard.edu.

    Online Resources for Patients

    The Blum Patient and Family Resource Center is closed due to the COVID-19 health emergency, but we continue to offer online and virtual programs to support patients and their loved ones. Learn about our digital library, online resource center, and virtual offerings by visiting the program calendar or by emailing Blum_Center@dfci.harvard.edu.

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    Tips for Coping With a COVID-19 Surge

    At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, many people were under the mindset that the virus would be contained relatively quickly. As the pandemic continues, and the timeline remains uncertain, it's important for people to discover new ways to find joy in their daily lives.
    hand sanitizer - 2

    COVID-19 FAQ for Cancer Patients

    As with many public health issues, the coronavirus outbreak may pose special risks for some cancer patients. We spoke with Sarah Hammond, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Dana-Farber and Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Craig Bunnell, MD, MPH, chief medical officer at Dana-Farber, about some of the specific challenges cancer patients may face at this time.

    hand sanitizer

    Immunocompromised: What Does it Mean?

    Immunocompromised individuals are potentially at a higher risk for severe illness from the coronavirus, or COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We're here to help — here is some general information about what it means to be immunocompromised, and how you can protect yourself.

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    Should I Get Screened for Cancer During COVID-19?

    Many people skipped or delayed routine cancer screening tests during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. Medical providers say it’s now safe and prudent to schedule your appointments.

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    Dana-Farber Patient Recovering Well After Cancer and the Coronavirus

    The team at Dana-Farber encourages anyone who is experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 to report them right away. Even if you have a confirmed case of the coronavirus, there are measures in place to ensure you can receive the care that’s safe for you, your care team, and other patients and staff members.

    Gina Solomon with Dana-Farber nurse Lisa Lundmark, BSN, RN

    Focus Is On Safety and Solidarity for Cancer Patients During COVID-19

    Many Dana-Farber patients and caregivers are adjusting to a mix of in-person and telehealth appointments, largely to reduce risk of COVID-19 exposure. For Gina Solomon, a consultant in the financial services industry who is working remotely through treatment, it's a perfect arrangement.

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    Tips for Getting Through Isolation From a Cancer Survivor

    When Rosemary Fischer gets calls from friends and family complaining about staying home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, she always has a good-natured response. Read how this cancer survivor copes and thrives despite being immunocompromised and isolated at home.

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    I Got Through a Stem Cell Transplant. We Can Get Through COVID-19, Too.

    Going through the COVID-19 pandemic and going through a stem cell transplant can seem eerily similar. Former Dana-Farber patient Ethan Hawes, who was treated for multiple myeloma, shares his advice.

    Patient Ben Lepper with Lara Wahlster, MD, PhD, in the Jimmy Fund Clinic

    Cancer Won't Stop Me, And Neither Will COVID-19

    Ben Lepper, who is being treated at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Jimmy Fund Clinic for T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), is careful about staying safe during the pandemic, but he won't let COVID-19 keep him from feeling optimistic about his future.