Masking will still be required for patients and staff experiencing respiratory symptoms

MU Health Care is lifting the universal masking requirement for all MU Health Care hospitals and clinics, effective today, Thursday, April 13.

The decision is based on new guidance from MU Health Care’s accreditation agency, DNV, which issued an advisory April 12 allowing its accredited institutions to use their own internal metrics to assess COVID-19 risk. Based on a risk assessment conducted by MU Health Care’s Infection Control team, the decision was made to transition from universal masking to optional masking with standard precautions.

Masking will continue to be required for patients and visitors who:

• Experience respiratory symptoms including cough, runny nose, sneezing, etc.
• Tested positive for COVID-19 or had an exposure in the previous 10 days
• Are visiting a patient with COVID-19 or other contagious respiratory viruses

Visitors who are ill should refrain from accompanying loved ones to a clinic appointment or the hospital.

MU Health Care staff will also be required to mask upon the request of a patient, and as part of standard precautions for patients with respiratory symptoms and during procedures that may put the patient or employee at risk.

For more information about how MU Health Care is committed to patient safety, go to https://www.muhealth.org/conditions-treatments/coronavirus/safety.