Coronavirus (COVID-19)

,

Due to the ongoing health crisis around the world at present and due to the fact that those with cancer or having treatment for cancer can lower your ability to fight infection, the board of trustees have decided that we will not be able to arrange any experiences before at least April 20th 2020. At this point we will review all expert advice and hopefully be back to normal.

For those that already have experiences booked, we will be in touch privately to discuss the options open to you. We are still fully accepting applications throughout this time providing the dates requested for the experience is not prior to the above date.

All of us at KOAC wish to offer our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused by this announcement. We also understand that this is a particularly worrying time for cancer patients and their families. Below is some further information for you:

COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS – GUIDANCE FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES/CARERS

COVID-19 (coronavirus) is spread in sneeze or cough droplets that then sit on surfaces (including the human body such as hands, faces).

You could get the virus if you:


• come into close contact with someone who has the virus and is coughing or sneezing
• touch surfaces that someone who has the virus has coughed or sneezed on (we don’t know yet but it may survive a number of hours on surfaces that have not been cleaned and disinfected)

Additional measures have been recommended to delay the spread of the virus:


You should avoid crowded places as best you can, increasing distance between people (at least 2 metres apart and not shaking hands) and stay home if you have any flu like symptoms (e.g. fever, cough). Remember that washing your hands for 20 seconds or more is still the most important way to limit spread of the virus.  Use of alcohol gels/sanitisers help in addition to handwashing.

Over 75s, especially those with a long-term heart or lung problem, and those with an impaired immune system (including due to cancer treatment) are at higher risk of severe illness due toCOVID-19 (coronavirus). If you are in this group, closely follow the general advice so widely published (newspapers, on television and radio and social media) and encourage your family and friends to do likewise. You should also consider how to further reduce your contact with others. Stay up to date by checking the HSE coronavirus page. In summary, this is:

• Avoid all but essential travel to affected areas
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol hand rub
• Cover your cough, dispose of the tissue, wash your hands
• Avoid touching your face with unclean hands
• Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• Avoid contact with anyone who is ill with a cough or difficulty breathing
• If you are ill, minimise contact with others, especially those who have medical conditions, are elderly or pregnant.

Other general recommendations on preventing infection during your treatment

One Cancer Voice, a collection of 20 Cancer charities have also written some frequently asked questions regarding Cancer and COVID-19 that can be found here:

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/physical-help/cancer-and-coronavirus