Given the decrease in hospitalizations associated with respiratory virus infections such as influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at UMMS and across the state of Maryland, and based on guidance from the Maryland Department of Health, we are making the following changes to both team member and visitor masking starting on Monday, March 4, 2024.
Team Member Masking
Masking is now optional for most patient contact (see exceptions below). Patient contact is defined as:
- Entering patient rooms or providing direct care or services in shared patient care areas
- Transporting patients or providing therapy to patients outside their room
- Exceptions: Masking continues to be required for:
Contact with immunosuppressed patients – this includes any patient in a dedicated area for immunosuppressed patients (e.g., oncology or transplant wards or clinics, infusion centers, etc., or located in a general area but meets the definition of severely immunosuppressed; see FAQs for additional details).
Contact with other high-risk patients, as identified by the provider or unit leadership.
If any patient requests team members wear a mask while providing clinical care, or if care partners (visitors) wear a mask during their visit.
In accordance with transmission-based precautions (e.g., patients with influenza).
- Masking remains optional in public spaces of UMMS inpatient and outpatient facilities, unless otherwise directed by local leadership. This includes waiting rooms, lobbies, nurses’ stations and hallways of patient care units and outpatient facilities, meeting rooms and break rooms.
- Team members should mask in all settings when returning to work following recent respiratory illness (see FAQs below on type of mask and duration). Please see link to the most updated guidelines for management of team member COVID-19 infection an exposure.
- Member organization infection prevention departments may direct additional team member masking in the setting of a cluster or outbreak.
Care Partner (Visitor) Masking - Masking for care partners (visitors) is optional while in contact with patients during care, except in cases where the patient is immunocompromised, where masking is required. Masking is optional in most public spaces (see FAQs below for more specific information)
- Note: Individuals visiting UMMS facilities to seek care for acute respiratory symptoms – for example, coming to UM Urgent Care or the Emergency Department with symptoms – should wear a mask to protect those around them (see FAQs below for more specific information)
Thank you for your continued support of our UMMS infection prevention policies, which are based on providing the safest care for our patients while protecting our patients, team members and visitors from virus transmission. Please see our FAQs below for more information. If you have any additional questions or need more guidance, please contact your member organization Infection Prevention departments.