An aerial view of UVA Health, which includes the UVA School of Medicine and School of Nursing.
Following updated guidance from UVA Health’s Infection Prevention and Control team, new policies on masking and visitation will go into effect this month at UVA Medical Center and other facilities in the Charlottesville area as well as UVA Health locations in Culpeper and Northern Virginia.
Because UVA Medical Center cares for many patients with compromised immune systems who are at higher risk for COVID-19 or other serious illnesses, there will be some differences in masking policies at University Hospital in Charlottesville compared with other UVA Health locations.
These policies are subject to change based on seasonal circumstances, as well as the prevalence of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses in the communities served. Patients may request their care teams wear masks during treatment and clinic visits where masking is optional. Individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses will be required to mask at all times, regardless of location.
UVA Medical Center, University Hospital and Area Clinical Facilities
Effective 7 a.m. April 18, the following policies will go into effect:
Masking
| Location | Mask Requirement |
| University Hospital(including imaging, public spaces, hallways, East Cafeteria, clinical care areas, and units) | Required |
| Emergency Department | Required |
| Transplant clinics | Required |
| Cancer clinics | Required |
| Infusion center | Required |
| Dialysis centers | Required |
| All administrative buildings and locations (including research areas) | Optional |
| Ambulatory clinics and outpatient imaging (most locations) | Optional |
| Orthopedic Center Ivy Road | Optional |
| Outpatient surgery centers | Optional |
| West Complex (except for shared transplant and surgery clinic space and dialysis center) | Optional |
Visitation
University Hospital at UVA Medical Center will return to the visitation policy in place before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Inpatients: UVA Health will not restrict, limit, or otherwise deny visitation privileges unless the visitation is medically or therapeutically disruptive or infringes upon the patient’s rights and/or safety, or the rights and/or safety of others. Only one person may stay overnight and must be 18 years or older; pediatric patients may have two overnight visitors. Additional information is available on UVAHealth.com. Visitation may be limited for other reasons, such as infection control concerns or privacy issues.
- Visitation to COVID-19 positive patients: Two visitors are allowed at the bedside at a time from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. One designated visitor is permitted by the bedside overnight for pediatric patients and for adult patients with disabilities or other special needs who require a family caregiver at the bedside. The number of visits by the designated visitor should be kept to the minimum needed to help care for the patient.
Culpeper and Northern Virginia
Effective 7 a.m. April 10, the following policies will go into effect:
Masking
| Location | Mask Requirement |
| Cancer clinics | Required |
| Dialysis units and clinics | Required |
| Infusion centers | Required |
| Neonatal intensive care units | Required |
| UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center, UVA Health Haymarket Medical Center, UVA Health Prince William Medical Center | Optional |
| Ambulatory clinics and outpatient imaging (most locations) | Optional |
| Outpatient surgery centers | Optional |
| UVA Health Caton Merchant House | Optional |
Visitation
UVA Health hospitals in Culpeper and Northern Virginia also will return to the visitation policies in place before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Culpeper Medical Center: Inpatients may have up to two visitors at a time during the visitation hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Parents or an adult responsible for the child should accompany any visitors younger than 12. Additional information is available on UVA Health.com.
- Haymarket Medical Center and Prince William Medical Center: These hospitals generally allow unrestricted visitation 24 hours a day, and strongly encourage visitors to consider the 9 a.m.-8 p.m. window to support quiet hours for patients. Some limitations may be placed based on factors that include the patient’s condition and their location within the hospital. Visitors younger than 12 must be supervised by an adult while visiting. Additional information is available on UVAHealth.com.
