Inova became the latest hospital system to make masking optional at its patient care facilities.
The hospital said in a news release that exceptions include its high-risk clinic areas, anyone who is immunocompromised, and anyone at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19.
The high-risk clinical spaces include the following:
- IFMC Adult Oncology Unit;
- IFMC Transplant Clinic;
- All Neonatal Intensive Care Units;
- All Newborn Nurseries;
- Pediatric Hem-Onc Clinic;
- Pediatric Hem-Onc Inpatient Unit;
- Antenatal Testing Centers.
Patients or visitors who have active respiratory symptoms also will be asked to wear masks.
Inova has five hospitals and a network of primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, and outpatient services in Northern Virginia.
Another health care company in Northern Virginia, Sentara, dropped its masking requirements last month.
Feature image courtesy Nutthavee/stock.adobe.com
For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s News newsletter.
