Skip Navigation

COVID-19 Facts and Resources

COVID-19 Information for Our Patients

  • 丹娜—法伯患者陪护须知



  • Before your appointment

    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.

    We want to know if you have any cold, flu, or COVID-like symptoms, including:

    • Fever
    • Sore throat
    • Cough
    • Runny nose/nasal congestion
    • Muscle aches
    • Loss of smell or taste
    • Shortness of breath

    Contact us if you're unsure or have any questions. You can call 617-632-3000 or find your doctor's number in our online directory.

    Day of your appointment

    Everyone who comes to Dana-Farber is screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Before you arrive, use our online prescreening app. You'll receive a digital pass to show when you enter.

    If you don't have a smartphone or can't access the app, we'll help you complete the screening process when you arrive.

  • Last reviewed March 15, 2023

    Patient Companions

    All Dana-Farber patients can bring up to two healthy adult companions (age 18 or older) to an outpatient appointment at Dana-Farber.

    Please do not bring children or young teens as companions to your Dana-Farber appointment. Visitors age 17 and younger, including siblings, are not permitted at this time. We thank you for your understanding.

    All companions and patients need to use our prescreen app. On the day of an appointment, go to prescreen.massgeneralbrigham.org on your smartphone and answer the app's screening questions to get a digital pass we’ll ask to see when you enter Dana-Farber. If you do not have a smartphone or can’t access the app, we will help you complete the screening process when you arrive.

    Face Masks

    Everyone is required to wear a face mask throughout their visit. We'll give you a mask when you arrive. Please make sure that it always covers your mouth and nose. Face masks remain an important way to protect yourself and others, especially for cancer patients and other persons with a weakened immune system.

  • COVID-19 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 talk with your Dana-Farber care team.

    • 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.
    • Dana-Farber may offer remdesivir to COVID-19-positive patients. This is an FDA-approved antiviral therapy administered by IV infusion.
    • AstraZeneca’s Evusheld monoclonal antibody therapy is no longer available in the United States. The FDA announced in January that the therapy is not currently authorized for emergency use.

    To learn more about COVID-19 therapies, talk with your doctor or check the CDC's COVID-19 treatments and medications overview. 

    • 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!

  • Some of our programs and services have changed.

    • The Friends' Place health boutique is open limited hours (Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) or by appointment. 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.
    • Some Dana-Farber volunteers have been asked to suspend activities and fewer are at the Institute.
    • The Zakim Center's programs in yoga, mindfulness, and other topics are available online. Review its Program Calendar.
    • The Blum Resource Center offers workshops and programs online. Check the Blum Resource Center page.
  • pharmacy staff holding up signs

  • 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.

  • a path in the woods

    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.

    mammography technician

    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.

    Members of the Dobay family

    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.

    Rosemary Fischer

    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.

    patient Ethan Hawes

    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.