Table 3. American College of Surgeons COVID-19 Guidelines for Triage of Colorectal Cancer Patients (https://www.facs.org/covid-19/clinical-gui- dance/elective-case/colorectal-cancer).

Phase I	Phase II	Phase III
Cases that need to be operated as soon as feasible (recognizing status of each hospi- tal likely to evolve over next week or two):  • Nearly obstructing colon • Nearly obstructing rectal cancer • Cancers requiring frequent transfusions • Asymptomatic colon cancers • Rectal cancers after neoadjuvant chemora- diation with no response to therapy • Cancers with concern about local perfora- tion and sepsis • Early stage rectal cancers where adjuvant therapy not appropriate Diagnoses that could be deferred 3 months  • Malignant polyps, either with or without prior endoscopic resection • Prophylactic indications for hereditary con- ditions • Large, benign appearing asymptomatic polyps • Small, asymptomatic colon carcinoids • Small, asymptomatic rectal carcinoids Alternative treatment approaches to delay surgery that can be considered:  • Locally advanced resectable colon cancer -Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for 2-3 months followed by surgery • Rectal cancer cases with clear and early ev- idence of downstaging from neoadjuvant chemoradiation - Where additional wait time is safe - Where additional chemotherapy can be administered • Locally advanced rectal cancers or recur- rent rectal cancers requiring exenterative surgery - Where additional chemotherapy can be administered • Oligometastatic disease where effective systemic therapy is available	Cases that need to be operated as soon as feasible (recognizing status of hospital li- kely to progress over next few days):  • Nearly obstructing colon cancer where stenting is not an option • Nearly obstructing rectal cancer (should be diverted) • Cancers with high (inpatient) transfusion requirements • Cancers with pending evidence of local perforation and sepsis Cases that should be deferred:  • All colorectal procedures typically sched- uled as routine  Alternative treatment approaches:  • Transfer patients to hospital with capacity • Consider neoadjuvant therapy for colon and rectal cancer • Consider more local endoluminal therapies for early colon and rectal cancers when safe	Cases that need to be operated as soon as feasible (status of hospital likely to prog- ress in hours)  • Perforated, obstructed, or actively bleeding (inpatient transfusion dependent) cancers • Cases with sepsis All other cases deferred Alternate treatment recommended  • Transfer patients to hospital with capacity • Diverting stomas • Chemotherapy • Radiation