Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions

Talk to your MD Anderson care team about your upcoming appointment or procedure. Every situation is different. Decisions about whether to reschedule your care should be made in consultation with your MD Anderson care team.

We’re taking steps help keep our patients safe and lower the risk of the COVID-19.

• If you have fever, cough or shortness of breath, contact your care team before your appointment.
• To reduce the spread of infection, MD Anderson will no longer allow visitors to accompany adult patients until further notice, with limited exceptions. For more details, please review our COVID-19 information page.
• We are requiring self-quarantine for new patients traveling from certain areas outside of Texas. These include: California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Washington (state), Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, and Miami. The quarantine may occur at patients’ homes, with daily monitoring by our staff. Download our self-quarantine instructions. New patients who have been approved to travel to MD Anderson will be provided an authorization letter for travel in MyChart and will be tested by us for COVID-19 by nasal swab, prior to their first appointment. Learn more about preparing for your first visit.
• Our clinical teams are working with current, out-of-state patients to determine appropriate options for care, whether that means delaying the appointment at MD Anderson, virtual visits, local care coordination or, if necessary, travel to MD Anderson for appointments and treatment. If your care team determines that your care should continue here at MD Anderson, you will receive further instructions from them. We are asking all out-of-state patients to self-quarantine at home for 14 days prior to their appointment, when medically feasible. You will receive a travel message in MyChart before your appointment.
• We will try to reduce the number of visits to Houston to keep our patients safe since traveling increases the risk of infection. In addition, we recommend all patients and their families self-isolate as much as possible for their protection.
• All patients will receive a MyChart questionnaire four days prior to their scheduled appointments to ask about travel outside Texas, symptoms, exposures, and local COVID-19 testing by nasal swab.

Please plan to arrive to your appointment 15 minutes earlier than usual to be able to park and allow time for screening prior to entering the building.

Public safety officers at building entry points will ask patients a few questions related to symptoms, contact with someone who has had a suspected case or confirmed case of COVID-19, recent travel to a high-risk area and if they have been tested for COVID-19. Patients will receive directions based on how they answer those questions. 

We no longer allow visitors to accompany adult patients until further notice, with limited exceptions. For more details, please review our COVID-19 information page.

Employees at the building entry points will try to encourage everyone to spread out as much as possible while waiting.

COVID-19 is spread through direct contact with someone who has the virus, by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching one’s eyes, nose or mouth, or by inhaling the tiny moisture droplets that are exhaled, sneezed or coughed into the air by someone who has the virus. Read these tips to help protect you and your loved ones from COVID-19 and other contagious diseases.

Decisions about whether to travel to MD Anderson for your care should be made in consultation with your MD Anderson care team. In addition, you should check in with your local provider, if you have one.

We are requiring self-quarantine for new patients traveling from certain areas outside of Texas. This restriction applies to patients who live in:

• California
• Connecticut
• New Jersey
• New York
• Washington (state)
• Atlanta
• Detroit
• Chicago
• Miami
  

The quarantine may occur at patients’ homes, with daily monitoring by our staff. New patients who have been approved to travel to MD Anderson will be provided an authorization letter for travel in MyChart and will be tested by us for COVID-19, prior to their first appointment. Learn more about preparing for your first visit.

Download MD Anderson's self-quarantine instructions.

Our clinical teams are working with current, out-of-state patients to determine appropriate options for care, whether that means delaying the appointment at MD Anderson, virtual visits, local care coordination or, if necessary, travel to MD Anderson for appointments and treatment. If your care team determines that your care should continue here at MD Anderson, you will receive further instructions from them. We are asking all out-of-state patients to self-quarantine at home for 14 days prior to their appointment, when medically feasible. You will receive a travel message in MyChart before your appointment.

We will try to reduce the number of visits to Houston to keep our patients safe since traveling increases the risk of infection. In addition, we recommend all patients and their families self-isolate as much as possible for their protection.

All patients will receive a MyChart questionnaire four days prior to their scheduled appointments to ask about travel outside Texas, symptoms, exposures, and local COVID-19 testing.

Research shows that older adults, cancer survivors, and those with weakened immune systems or serious medical conditions are uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19.  You may also wish to review the guidance provided by the CDC regarding special considerations for higher risk populations, including recommendations to avoid sick people, crowds, and non-essential air travel.

We no longer allow visitors until further notice, with limited exceptions. For more details, please review our COVID-19 information page.

Three cell phone lots will allow patients’ loved ones to remain on campus nearby while they await for patient discharge. This will be offered at no cost. They may only use these cell phone lots for short-term waiting. In addition, all TMC parking facilities have extended the free grace period from 20 minutes to 60 minutes.

We have created respite areas for caregivers to sit inside and have access to restrooms. They are located at the Main Building's Pavilion and Aquarium screening areas, as well as the Mays Clinic screening area.

For more details, visit our drop-off and pick-up information page.

We have created respite areas for caregivers to sit inside and have access to restrooms. They are located at the Main Building's Pavilion and Aquarium screening areas, as well as the Mays Clinic screening area.

In addition, portable restrooms are available in our cell phone lots.

For more details, visit our drop-off and pick-up information page.

Family members may drop off items such as toiletries, clothing and personal items, as well as food, to be delivered to a patient’s room. Items may be dropped off in the Main Building Aquarium entrance between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week.

A table staffed by employees will accept and deliver items. Items should be clearly labeled with the patient’s name, cell phone number if available, inpatient unit and patient room number. An employee will deliver the items to the PSC desk at the inpatient unit and nursing unit staff will bring item(s) to the patient.

Yes, MD Anderson is open for patient care appointments. Patients and caregivers with questions or concerns should contact your care team via MyChart message or phone call. Outside of business hours, please call: 1-877-564-1202.

We actively are monitoring for COVID-19 to ensure the safety of our patients, visitors and staff. Some of the precautions implemented by MD Anderson include:

• Screening patients and visitors for possible COVID-19 infection.
• We no longer allow visitors until further notice, with limited exceptions. For more details, please review our COVID-19 information page.
• We are requiring self-quarantine for new patients traveling from certain areas outside of Texas. These include: California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Washington (state), Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, and Miami. The quarantine may occur at patients’ homes, with daily monitoring by our staff. Download our self-quarantine instructions. New patients who have been approved to travel to MD Anderson will be provided an authorization letter for travel and will be tested by us for COVID-19 by nasal swab, prior to their first appointment.
• Our clinical teams are working with current, out-of-state patients to determine appropriate options for care, whether that means delaying the appointment at MD Anderson, virtual visits, local care coordination or, if necessary, travel to MD Anderson for appointments and treatment. We will try to reduce the number of visits to Houston to keep our patients safe since traveling increases the risk of infection. In addition, we recommend all patients and their families self-isolate as much as possible for their protection.
• Cancelling all business travel, domestic and international, for faculty and staff for eight weeks.
• Asking employees to register their personal travel and the travel of their household members with Employee Health, and to self-quarantine after travel outside of Houston.
  
• Limiting work gatherings and meetings to no more than 5 people with a minimum of 6 feet of distance between participants.
  
• Limiting the number of people in elevators in alignment with our guidelines for 5 or fewer people in an area.
  
• Dining locations are limited to take-out food and their seating areas closed.
  
• Our Hospitality Centers, the Beauty/Barber Shop, The Learning Center and the Patient Relaxation Area have all closed to reduce the potential for people gathering in close quarters.
  
• For patients, our skybridge shuttles are limiting each cart to 4 riders. 
  

Café seating areas are closed to comply with CDC guidelines encouraging people to stay 3-6 feet away from others. Cafés will be limited to take-out food only. Room service will continue as usual.

MD Anderson has closed several areas to comply with CDC guidelines encouraging people to stay 6 feet away from others. Those areas include café seating, Hospitality Centers, the Patient Relaxation Area, the Beauty/Barber shop, The Learning Centers and Salus.

Grab-n-Go foods are still available at our dining locations.

Patients are welcome to eat in public spaces, such as our lobbies and reception areas, while keeping a safe distance of 6 feet away from others. Follow the federal guidelines and limit all gatherings to 10 or fewer people.

The Learning Center staff can answer your questions, conduct research and assist you to find answers by email. Contact us at asktlcstaff@mdanderson.org. You may also visit our website mdanderson.org/tlc. If you are seeking cancer health information, visit Recommended Resources at http://mdandersontlc.libguides.com/home. These online guides connect you to the information you need. Many of the booklets that you find in The Learning Center can be found on the Recommended Resources.
 

Given recent efforts to limit visitors on campus, we are canceling all in-person classes and support groups at our locations until further notice.

Online support groups: As families face the uncertainties of a cancer diagnosis and the COVID-19 pandemic, MD Anderson's Social Work department is hosting WebEx support groups for patients and caregivers. Learn more about these sessions an how to register on our support groups information site.

Volunteers are an important part of the MD Anderson community, and we are committed to their health and safety. Research shows that older adults, cancer survivors, and those with weakened immune systems or serious medical conditions are uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19. For their safety, all MD Anderson volunteer shifts are canceled until further notice. Some employees will be re-deployed to assist our patients until it is possible for volunteers to return.

No, guests of all ages are welcome at the Rotary House. However, we no longer allow visitors in clinical areas until further notice, with limited exceptions. For more details, please review our COVID-19 information page.

Due to our response to COVID-19, all blood donations at MD Anderson Blood Donor Center locations are being held by appointment only to help control donor flow and manage the amount of individuals in one room. We must also be cautious about accepting donors who may have traveled from high case load areas. Therefore, anyone who has traveled internationally or to any state outside of Texas in the past 14 days will not be able to donate.

It is safe to donate blood during this time. COVID-19 is not a bloodborne disease. It’s a respiratory virus, and there has been no evidence that COVID-19 could be transmitted or contracted through a blood donation or a blood transfusion. Your blood donation will help ensure an adequate blood supply for our patients during this critical time.

Learn more on our Blood Bank website.

We greatly appreciate the generosity of individuals in the community. At this time, we are not in need of fabric mask donations. Donations of N-95 masks, however, will be accepted if the package is unopened, the masks are unused and the brand is on the CDC approved list. KN95 masks may also be donated if the package is unopened and the masks are unused. Any donations will be inspected for safety and must meet MD Anderson’s infection control standards.

Mask donation offers should be directed to the Development Office at giving@mdanderson.org or 1-800-525-5841. Please do not drop off donations at any of our campuses as visitor restrictions are in place for the safety of patients and staff. Alternative ways to receive donations will be arranged.

Yes. MD Anderson can only accept individual meals or wrapped food. We cannot accept trays of food or buffet- and family-style meals. Pizza donations are allowed. Before donating meals or food, restaurants or community members should contact us by email.

There are many types of coronaviruses. Common types can cause illnesses such as a cold. That is why it can show up in a patient’s medical record. You can learn more about coronaviruses from the CDC. A new coronavirus found in China, called the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is affecting people around the world.

According to the CDC, the following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.*

• Fever greater than 100.4º F/38º C
• Coughing, or 
• Shortness of breath
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

These symptoms vary and include many that are very similar to those associated with the flu or the common cold.

Because our patients are especially vulnerable to this and other infectious diseases, we’re asking employees and patients to practice social distancing. That means asking people to stay 6 feet away from others.

That said, social distancing is a luxury that health care providers, patients and caregivers may not have. That’s why it’s only one of many ways that we can prevent the spread of infection and keep patients and our workforce safe.

Nine ways to prevent the spread of infection:

1. Frequently wash hands. Use soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand gel for at least 20 seconds. If using hand sanitizer, allow it to dry. Do not wipe excess off. Always wash hands prior to eating or handling medication.
2. Cover your cough. Use your elbow or a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
3. Don’t touch your face. Refrain from touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
4. Clean high-touch surfaces and personal items such as cell phones, purses and backpacks frequently.
5. Wash clothes, including outerwear, frequently.
6. Limit physical contact with others. This means avoiding handshakes, hugs and other physical greetings. It’s hard, so if you forget and shake hands, go back to start and wash your hands.
7. Avoid crowded areas, when possible. Try to stay at least 3 feet away from others in lobbies, cafeterias and screening lines. 
8. Only go to essential places (e.g., grocery store or pharmacy) at non-peak times. Wipe down carts before use. 
9. Stay home when sick. This is the ultimate social distancing practice. That’s why we’re screening for potential exposure and symptoms at our reduced entrances.

Learn more at mdanderson.org/coronavirus or cdc.gov/COVID19.