In total, 35 patients were referred for surgical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic from 1 March to 24 April. One patient admitted for a lung cancer staging mediastinoscopy started to show fever and respiratory symptoms compatible with COVID-19 h before the operation. A diagnostic PCR was performed for SARS-CoV-2; the test results were positive; the surgical intervention was cancelled. The patient died of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.