Masking Guidelines

Updated May 26, 2023

In accordance with government regulations, masking is now optional for patients without respiratory symptoms, with some important exceptions, in all Penn Medicine facilities. The exceptions are outlined below.

Patients who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who have symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, fever, sore throat, nasal congestion) must wear a mask.

Visitors who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who have symptoms of COVID-19 are not allowed to enter any facility, even with a mask.

Masking is required for patients and visitors age 2 and older in:

  • Emergency department and urgent care waiting rooms
  • Dedicated oncology, radiation oncology, and transplant clinics
  • Infusion centers

We encourage patients who are immunocompromised to continue to wear masks in all of our facilities. If you would like your healthcare team to wear masks, you can request for them to do so.

6 nurses holding signs that say "We Are All In This Together"Penn Medicine is a leader in medical research, education, and high-quality, safe patient care. From the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have brought together skilled professionals from all parts of our organization to collaborate on new protocols that ensure we can safely care for all patients—those with COVID-19 as well as patients with other important medical needs. Our highest priority is making sure each and every one of our patients gets the care they need, when they need it, in the safest way possible.

We are also here to be a resource for you. Throughout this section, you’ll find information about safety protocols within Penn Medicine hospitals and facilities, patient appointments and services, COVID-19 testing, mRNA vaccine development for COVID-19, and more. We encourage you to read our Frequently Asked Questions page if you have questions about the coronavirus.

If you have questions about how to navigate your care at Penn Medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, you should call your doctor or our toll-free hotline at 833-983-1350.

Appointments and Surgeries

Know what to expect at in-person visits, surgeries, telemedicine appointments and more.

Safety Policies and Visitor Guidelines

Learn about our increased safety measures during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Testing Sites

View information about Penn Medicine's COVID-19 testing sites for patients with coronavirus symptoms and upcoming procedures and surgeries.

Vaccines

View updates on the COVID-19 vaccines, including our distribution plan, vaccine safety, who should get vaccinated, and more.

What to Do if You Have COVID Symptoms

Learn what to do if you have COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19 to help prevent spreading the virus to others.

Clinical Trials

View and enroll in current clinical trials at Penn Medicine, studying preventative measures, treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get the answers to commonly asked questions about COVID-19, including how it is diagnosed, who is at risk, and more.
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