Provided by Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center
The Sentara COVID-19 Task Force has closely monitored COVID-19 activity for the past three years across its communities, using scientific data and the highest safety standards to guide decisions throughout the pandemic. Currently, health systems across the country are seeing a steady decrease in COVID-19, RSV, and flu patients – the three respiratory viruses that triggered a surge in emergency department visits and hospitalizations last fall.
After much consideration, Sentara believes it is safe and appropriate to relax masking requirements across our healthcare facilities.
Effective March 21, 2023, patients, visitors, and team members will no longer be required to wear a mask at all times within Sentara’s healthcare facilities. Exceptions include:
- Patients who are seeking treatment for a viral illness such as COVID-19 or the flu should continue to wear a mask to prevent spreading the virus to others.
- Healthcare workers treating patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 must still wear the appropriate level of personal protective equipment (PPE) required.
All healthcare professionals will continue to follow infection prevention protocols. Health systems will continue to monitor respiratory illness activity within the Sentara communities.
While COVID-19 policies continue to evolve, Sentara’s priority remains the safety of team members, patients, and community. Masks will continue to be an important tool, along with vaccinations, to keep people healthy and safe. Masks will still be available to patients and visitors who enter Sentara facilities. Additionally, healthcare colleagues can still wear a mask if they choose to do so.
Sentara is grateful to all healthcare colleagues, patients, and visitors for their cooperation in following important public health measures during the pandemic to protect one another.
