Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face. The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow). At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. WHO will continue to provide updated information as soon as clinical findings become available. The COVID-19 virus is having a huge impact in our Healthcare Systems and has already made us change the way we run our daily practice. In the surgical field, some hospitals have had to stop their elective procedures, others are doing only oncologic cases and all of them have modified the follow-up visits of their patients. MIRCAST Study remains active during this pandemic, but will closely monitor the recruitment and profile of the patients recruited. If you work in a MIRCAST Study participating center, please take a close look to the special measures adopted.
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