Updated Masking Guidance - 2026 Influenza Season
By Scott Leas, Public Affairs Officer
To ensure safety due to rising flu and respiratory viruses, new measures start this week. Face masks are required in certain areas and for those with symptoms or exposure. Visitors are encouraged to use alternative visitation methods where possible.
Due to the rising levels of influenza and other respiratory virus activity in the community and to ensure the safety of our patients/Veterans, staff, and other visitors, we are implementing several enhanced safety practices to start this week:
1. Face masks are required when entering all inpatient units, Urgent Care, Emergency Department and Hematology/Oncology Clinic.
2. Masking is required for staff, patients, and visitors who have a suspected or confirmed respiratory infection (e.g., runny nose, cough, sneezing), or who have had close contact with someone with a viral respiratory infection, for at least 10 days post-exposure. *
3. Individuals may remove masks in these high-risk areas under the following circumstances:
• They are not in a patient room
• They are not within six feet of a Veteran in a congregate area
• They are not within six feet of a patient in an open treatment area/room
4. A visitor is defined as any individual, including a child, entering a VHA facility for the purpose of accompanying or visiting a Veteran receiving care or services from the facility. Veterans are encouraged not to bring minor children into the facility. However, minors who are symptom-free and able to maintain a face mask and adhere to disease reduction measures, including hand hygiene and physical distancing, will not be turned away. Alternative methods of visitation are encouraged whenever feasible (e.g., telephone or video visits).