TABLE 2.

Key conclusions on the practical considerations on the organization of an allergy clinic during the current COVID‐19 pandemic

Section	Key conclusions
COVID‐19: general considerations for HCPs	Protective measures should be taken following the general recommendations from the European Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, and current rules must comply with the national responsible government agencies.
COVID‐19: clinical course in allergic patients	Viral infections, including infections with coronaviruses, are associated with aggravation of allergies such as asthma exacerbations. Limited knowledge is available on the differences in the course of COVID‐19 infection in allergic compared with nonallergic patients, and further clinical evidence is needed.
Care of allergic patients: preclinical setting and triage of patients	Many clinics and medical offices already use remote healthcare tools to triage and manage patients outside the consultation hours and as part of usual practice. These measures can ideally be used to prioritize and triage allergic patients on the basis of the severity of the allergic disease, the need for in‐person consultation and the differentiation of allergic symptoms from clinical symptoms of COVID‐19.
Challenges and chances of information technology (IT)	Digital health solutions, especially the use of telemedicine, have been previously proposed as a useful tool to provide medical advice remotely when physical presence is impossible or should be limited to a strict minimum, such as in the current COVID‐19 pandemic. However, certain limitations of this technology need to be considered and special emphasis should be placed on data security and data protection.
Clinical setting	General hygiene rules should be followed, especially in the preclinical and clinical setting. The entrance, which is the first point of contact, patient traffic and the triage of allergic patients should be organized to minimize the risks of viral infection. Moreover, the organization of staff should be optimized and regular training of procedures should be provided. Any physical contact with the patient should be minimized, and effective preventive measures carried out for any further examination and diagnostic.
Specific considerations in diagnostic procedures in allergic patients	Specific considerations in a clinical setting are necessary for the diagnostic procedures of different allergic diseases during the current pandemic. As SARS‐CoV‐2 spreads primarily through respiratory aerosols, airways but also other allergy‐related organs are affected, and preventive measures should be ensured. These comprise ENT examinations (including endoscopy), bronchoscopy, nasal or bronchial allergen provocation tests, tissue sampling, lung function tests, skin testing, blood sample collection, drug provocation tests, oral food challenges and oesophageal examinations.
Specific considerations in the management of different allergic diseases	Though avoidance measures during the COVID‐19 pandemic are similar in different allergic diseases, specific aspects should also be followed with optimal care for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, drug allergy, food allergy, urticaria and venom allergy. Different recommendations can be provided for patients with suspected SARS‐CoV‐2 infection or diagnosed COVID‐19 disease versus noninfected individuals or patients having recovered from COVID‐19 infection. After recovery from COVID‐19, allergy care has to be resumed, but an interdisciplinary consultation is recommended before any further diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.
Socio‐psychological considerations for allergic patients and optimal care during and after the pandemic	Socio‐psychological mechanisms play a major role in terms of symptom development, symptom exacerbation and perception in allergic patients. Besides, the general population is highly sensitive to the perception of people showing respiratory symptoms during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This increases the risk of stigmatization of patients with allergies, further enhancing the psychosocial stress of patients. Therefore, optimal medical and psychological care for patients with allergies during the COVID‐19 pandemic is essential.
Considerations for performing non‐COVID‐19–related clinical trials	Clinical trials to combat the COVID‐19 pandemic currently have top priority. However, a number of non‐COVID‐19 trials are also essential and should be continued if they can be conducted in a safe manner. Safety measures and new guidelines need to be established for participants, and research/laboratory staff dealing with non‐COVID‐19–related clinical trials, to ensure the continuation of essential and critical non‐COVID‐19 trials.