Dr. Carbone Provides Perspective on COVID-19

David P. Carbone, MD, PhD, director of the Thoracic Oncology Center at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James, provides perspective on the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

Patients with lung cancer are at an increased risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19, says Carbone. Patients are at even further risk of contracting the virus when they go to a cancer center or clinic for treatment because they could be exposed, adds Carbone.

Community spread has caused a rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases in the United States. As such, patients should take precautionary measures, such as hand washing and social distancing to reduce potential exposure to the virus. By studying the disease, immunologists hope to develop a vaccine to prevent the spread of the virus. However, in order to curb the spread of COVID-19, people will have to take the vaccine, which has been one of the ongoing struggles with the influenza vaccine, concludes Carbone.

*This interview took place March 11, 2020