LAUSR

All the world is facing a severe crisis, regarding a new type of Coronavirus. The SARS-CoV-2 has already spread to all continents. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the outbreak of a pandemic, which possibly will infect more than 50% of the global community.1 The disease caused by SARS-CoV2, named COVID-19, is of hugely variable intensity, from the asymptomatic to septic patients. The clinical presentation in the majority of the cases is not only with fever (87-98%), cough (55-80%), dyspnea (30-50%), sputum production (30%), chest oppression (20%), myalgia (30-45%), diarrhea (3-14%) and headache (15%), but also with anosmia and hyposmia.2–4 Severe outcomes, including intensive care necessity, mechanical ventilation and death, have been strongly associated with the elderly and the presence of comorbidities, such as diabetes and chronic cardiac, renal or pulmonary diseases. Despite the lack of clinical data, patients with oncological or hematological diseases have also been considered at high risk for severe COVID-19 by some specialists.5 There are some reasons for this: intense immunosuppression due to hematological diseases or their treatment, corticosteroids, frequent exposure to medical institutions (hospitals or clinics), high exposure to other patients and, in some scenarios, also advanced age.