Lessons learned from a cross-sectional survey among patients and staff in an acute psychiatric unit during an ongoing pandemic outbreak

•Acute psychiatric ward and COVID-19•Patient reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic•Staff reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic This current cross sectional survey was carried out amongst patients and staff in an acute psychiatric inpatient unit in the very first weeks of the ongoing pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 in Norway. Most patients found the visiting restrictions difficult, many reported that the pandemic made them feel unsafe, affected their sleep and that they feared transmission from other patients. Among staff, almost half were afraid that they would contract the virus, a majority feared they would bring the virus home and infect their family and one third were concerned that the pandemic compromised the treatment provided for the patients.