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American Cancer Society offering housing to health care workers

Posted at 12:53 PM, Apr 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-08 13:02:20-04

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The American Cancer Society has partnered up with the University of Kentucky to provide housing at its Hope Lodge facility in Lexington for health care workers who are not able to go home amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Due to the overwhelming outbreak of COVID-19, the American Cancer Society (ACS) shut down their program back in March. After discussing matters with medical experts and reviewing CDC guidelines, the ACS came to the conclusion they could not guarantee the safety of their patients due to the quick spread of COVID-19.

Those at the ACS are doing what they can to adapt to the situation, as many hospitals and other health care systems are seeing shortages of crucial supplies.

"This pandemic is going to have many making very difficult decisions. For us, suspending our Hope Lodge program was agonizing, but the dangers are too great for our immunocompromised residents," stated Wayne White, Executive Vice President of the ACS. "We appreciate how our valuable partners are critical in managing the impact of COVID-19 on the community and on our patients. My daughter is a physician on the frontline, so I am personally very proud that we are making this commitment to support those who are working day and night to heal those in need. It is the right thing to do for cancer patients, our communities and our mission."

Anyone in need of resources can call the National Cancer Information Center at any time at 1.800.227.2345, as well as find more information such as supporting cancer programs at cancer.org.