Face masks optional for most employees, patients, and visitors, effective March 8 – The Loop – University of Iowa Health Care
Throughout the pandemic, UI Health Care has monitored the local health situation, making changes as necessary to keep safety our top priority. When the pandemic changed course, so too, did UI Health Care.
As COVID-19 and respiratory virus rates continue to decrease in our community, we’re now able to safely make changes to our face mask guidelines.
What’s changing on Wednesday, March 8
Effective Wednesday, March 8, face masks will be optional for all in our facilities, except for those who have symptoms of a respiratory virus or for those employees who are unvaccinated, for which masks remain required.
Masks are welcome for anyone who chooses to wear one. This change to our guidance was made in partnership with our Program of Hospital Epidemiology.
What’s staying the same – where masks are still required
- Face masks remain required for anyone who has symptoms of a respiratory virus (such as a new/worsening cough, fever, new/worsening sore throat) to prevent the spread of infection.
- Employees who are not vaccinated are still required to wear a face mask at all times.
- Face masks also remain required for pre-pandemic standards of masking in places like the OR, procedural areas, isolation, etc. for safety and infection prevention protocols.
Our commitment to safety remains. We will continue to monitor the local situation and adjust this guidance as necessary.
Frequently asked questions
We’re able to safely make modifications to our face mask policy to reflect the decrease in COVID-19 and other respiratory virus transmission in our community.
We know it is safe to take this approach to masking because of the current community levels of circulating viruses. Additionally, many people have immunity either from vaccination and / or natural immunity from prior infection.
Yes. Face masks are welcome and remain available across our campus for those who choose to wear them.
All those in our facilities are required to wear a mask if they have symptoms of a respiratory virus (such as a new/worsening cough, fever, new/worsening sore throat).
Staff who are unvaccinated for COVID-19 are also required to continue wearing masks at all times.
Face masks also remain required for pre-pandemic standards of masking in places like the OR, procedural areas, isolation, etc.
For vaccinated employees, you may want to wear a mask if:
- You have an underlying medical condition, are immunocompromised, or are an older adult
- Your close contacts are more likely to get very sick if they contract COVID-19
- You had a high-risk exposure and may become sick
- You are in a crowded space or public transportation, and you want to lower your risk of becoming sick
- You have not had COVID-19 in the last 90 days
- You are caring for a patient that has COVID-19-like symptoms or symptoms of a respiratory virus
For our patients and visitors, you may want to wear a mask if:
- You haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19
- You have an underlying medical condition, are immunocompromised, or are an older adult
- Your close contacts are more likely to get very sick if they contract COVID-19
- You are in a crowded space or public transportation, and you want to lower your risk of becoming sick
- You have not had COVID-19 in the last 90 days
Please note: Unvaccinated employees are still required to wear a face mask at all times. All those in our facilities are required to wear a mask if they have symptoms of a respiratory virus (such as a new/worsening cough, fever over 100.0 F, new/worsening sore throat). Face masks also remain required for pre-pandemic standards of masking in places like the OR, procedural areas, isolation, etc.
No, questions and comments about mask wearing are strongly discouraged. Members of the university community are expected to be respectful of one another’s personal decisions. Whether or not to wear a mask is a personal decision that each person must make for themselves and for their own reasons.
Disrespectful behavior may be addressed according to the university’s ethics policies for staff and faculty. Behavior that constitutes harassment may be addressed according to the Anti-Harassment Policy. If you have questions, please contact your local human resources representative.
Face masks remain required for pre-pandemic standards of masking in places like the OR, procedural areas, isolation, etc.
Throughout the pandemic, UI Health Care has monitored the local health situation, making changes as necessary to keep safety our top priority. When the pandemic changed course, so too, did UI Health Care.
As COVID-19 and respiratory virus rates continue to decrease in our community, we’re now able to safely make changes to our face mask guidelines.
No, social/physical distancing is no longer required. Please follow existing fire/safety guidelines for room capacity.
Meetings and events can continue with no necessary COVID-19 restrictions, aside from the updated face mask guidelines outlined above.
Food and drink are permitted during meetings and events (such as Grand Rounds and faculty/staff meetings), but best practices for food safety should be considered.
Food items do not need to be individually wrapped. Sharing food (such as a potluck event) is not recommended and is discouraged per usual food safety practices.
Yes. Plexiglass barriers can be removed. To request removal of plexiglass barriers, please use the 159 Service Request Form and select “Plexiglass” in the Task Description dropdown menu.
Visitor restrictions are still in place. For the latest information, visit the Patient & Visitor Resources page on The Loop.
