Abstract
The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has affected all aspects of life globally and care of children with malignancies is no exception. We are part of a large tertiary care 2000 bedded university hospital in North India. Approximately 450 new malignancies are diagnosed annually, translating to 10 patients per week. About 200 children attend the clinics every week. Additionally, 15-20 walk-in patients are evaluated daily in the daycare. Patients travel from distances as far as 500 km to reach our center. Merely 20% live within 50 km of the hospital, and approximately 35% reside at a distance exceeding 200 km. Two-third of the patients hail from urban areas and one third belong to rural areas. The majority of families stay in a patient hostel in the hospital premises, and a few rent a flat in the city for the 4-9 months duration of intensive phase of therapy. The Government of India mandated a lockdown on the 24th March 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the outpatient services of the hospital were closed. The borders with the neighboring states were sealed & vehicular movement curtailed with barring of public transport & suspension of all interstate and intercity travel. The citizens were advised to maintain social distancing. The unit was faced with the formidable challenge of ensuring the well-being of children under our care from a wide geographical spread with minimal access to Pediatric Oncology services in their hometowns. How did we manage our patients?