Worried About Going Back to Work?

[bkoffman]

Worried about going back to work? The CLL Society continues to urge all CLL patients to strictly avoid being exposed to COVID-19. Stay home. Limit contact with other people. Download our updated Official Statement on COVID-19 (coronavirus). Share it with HR, your co-workers, health care providers, extended family, and friends. Smart Patients Get Smarty Care!™ cllsociety.org/2020/08/cll-...

[Zia2]

And for those of us that have to work?

[HopeME in reply to Zia2]

We all need to be as careful as possible. Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet. I can work remotely but I have middle school children who will be attending school in September two days on, two days off. Quite frankly, I’d rather work In an office than have my children in school as I’d feel more in control if it were only my actions I had to worry about.

[bkoffman CLL CURE Hero in reply to HopeME]

I can't disagree.

[bkoffman CLL CURE Hero in reply to Zia2]

Be as cautious as possible (social distancing, hand care, not touching surfaces and then your face, and get the best PPE that you can. Docs with the correct PPE used correctly who are caring for COVID patients are not getting the infection, so it is possible.

[Zia2 in reply to bkoffman]

What PPE is that? N95? and gloves?

[bkoffman CLL CURE Hero in reply to Zia2]

Fitted N95 if possible, consider goggles and face shield, gloves. Doffing and donning properly is important too. Sounding alarmist but that's what ED health professionals use to protect themselves and it works.

[Zia2 in reply to bkoffman]

I may be around people w no healthcare but not COVID patients. I wouldnt have an N95 to last until next spring. You agree w the articles and research reporting they can be steamed in a rice cooker for 45 minutes and reused?

[bkoffman CLL CURE Hero in reply to Zia2]

I would defer to what the CDC or NIOSH or WHO or your local health authorities recommend. Think it's pretty easy to kill Covid on mask adjust leaving them in the sunlight for a few dismay be adequate. The trick is sterilizing in way not to damage the mask's integrity.

[spanglem1234]

I am on w&w and a nurse in a hospital. My oncologist says I can work and just use standard precautions.

[bkoffman CLL CURE Hero in reply to spanglem1234]

We each have to make our own decisions. I wouldn't take the risk and many CLL experts would agree with me if there was risk of contact with C-19 infectious patients. N95 masks and full PPE will offer you a high level of protection. Insist on nothing less if you do work.

[Zia2 in reply to bkoffman]

Brian, a lot of us HAVE to work so when I keep reading "don't work", it's not helpful. That's not an option for a lot of us. I'm in my 50s and my insurance is under my name which I have to have for Ibrutinib and housing, food etc. Not everyone is retired or w a partner that works.

[bkoffman CLL CURE Hero in reply to Zia2]

I recognize that not everyone is retired or has the option to work from home, but we are trying to increase the possibility that the work from home option is put on the table for folks like us because it is clearer safer. especially in a school or hospital setting. If not possible, then proper PPE and safety measures can also provide excellent levels of protection. Again I understand PPE can be hard to find and pricey. We are working on that one too, but it's a big nut to crack and we are a small charity. Please understand much of what we do is aspirational, knowing that some may never access the best options, but we want to help provide the best information and the latest science where we can't provide the hard resources. So wish we could do more.

[DoriZett]

I printed this official statement and gave it to my primary care physician who appreciated having additional information and recommendation. Thank you for all you do at the CLL Society and elsewhere.