Descripción general
The information on this page is intended for the UCSF Health System, including Stanyan & Hyde and Benioff Children's Hospitals. UCSF Fresno should follow its current local and institutional policies for masking. For patient information, visit UCSF Health’s COVID-19 Information for Patients & Visitors or COVID-19 Vaccines at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals websites.
UCSF masking guidance
Updated October 28, 2025
As part of our commitment to patient safety, we will be resuming required face masking for all staff involved in direct patient care from November 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026 to coincide with the respiratory viral season and align with guidelines from our local and state public health.
This requirement for facemasks applies to any physical or recognized areas where direct patient care is delivered and where patients are seen, evaluated or treated.
Facemasks are REQUIRED in the following areas:
- Hospital and clinic rooms
- Designated triage areas
- Hallway beds
- Infusion center chairs
Facemasks are NOT required in the following non-patient care areas:
- Registration desk
- Hallways
- Breakrooms
- Elevators
UCSF Health masking guidance FAQs
This is a precautionary measure during the respiratory viral season to protect patients, colleagues, and the community, following trends in respiratory illness and public health recommendations. Wearing a medical mask prevents the spread of respiratory secretions produced when a person is breathing and/or talking; this is referred to as source control.
Yes, when medical masks are used for source control (see previous question), they can be reused between patients as long as the mask is not damaged or wet and the patient is not on transmission-based precautions (Droplet, Contact, Enteric Contact, etc.). If the patient is on transmission-based precautions, masks should be discarded.
Masks are required in all areas where direct patient care is provided, including hospital rooms, clinic rooms, hallway beds, infusion centers, and triage areas.
Non-patient care areas such as registration desks, hallways, elevators, workrooms, and breakrooms will not require masks. However, masking is recommended in these areas.
Kindly remind them to wear their mask, as it is part of our infection prevention strategy to keep everyone safe.
The masking requirement will be in place from November 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026, to cover the respiratory viral season.
You can reach out to your supervisor or the infection prevention team for any questions or clarifications.
UCSF has a legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodations such that patients and visitors can access our care, programs, and services:
- As an organizational standard, we are committed to doing all we can to accommodate patients who request additional or different measures to help ensure their safety/feeling of safety in our environment.
- These reasonable accommodations extend to patients who are immunocompromised. Examples of reasonable accommodations for immunocompromised patients (including, but not limited to):
- Allowing a patient to wait outside, providing a private space for a patient to wait, rooming the patient early, etc.
- Staff and/or providers wearing a surgical, or N95 mask, as requested by immunocompromised patients.
- Please feel free to reach out to Patient Relations ([email protected] or 415-353-1936) with any questions regarding accommodation requests.