Masking is not required for patients and visitors who do not have any respiratory infection symptoms, in both inpatient and ambulatory settings.
Masking will continue to be required for health care workers, patients, and visitors with active respiratory infection symptoms like fever, cough, shortness of breath, body aches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, or vomiting.
Patients, visitors, and employees should follow the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level guidelines for individual-level masking recommendations.
Adherence to standard precautions remains the best method for breaking the chain of transmission and protecting patients, visitors, and staff from exposures. These measures include but are not limited to hand hygiene, disinfection, wearing PPE according to patient symptoms/exposure risk, and staying home when sick.
UAB Medicine will continue to monitor CDC data on community transmission levels. If COVID-19 levels increase, we will consider reinstating universal masking as part of our strategy to protect our patients, visitors, and employees. We support individual decisions about masking and vigilance in personal health choices.