With the increase in COVID-19 cases across Middle Tennessee, VUMC continues to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines regarding masking in our clinical areas to protect our patients and each other. All counties in Tennessee that are home to a VUMC facility are now at the CDC’s highest level of Community Transmission, driven largely by the new XBB.1.5 (or “Kraken”) variant. In addition, only 6% of people in Tennessee have received the bivalent booster vaccine, which will better protect against this new variant.
- Masking with a procedure or surgical mask is still REQUIRED for all staff, visitors, and patients in all VUMC clinical areas.
- A clinical area is any space in a hospital or clinic where patients and visitors are present. This includes nursing stations, waiting rooms, hallways, and elevators. In a mixed-use building, such as Medical Center North, a clinical area is where patients and families may be present.
- Masks must cover BOTH YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH.
- Please remind others to mask up if you see them unmasked or masked incorrectly as part of our safety culture.
For full details on our current masking policies, please see https://www.vumc.org/infection-prevention/sites/default/files/public_files/Masking%20Guidelines%20%2816%29.pdf on the Department of Infection Prevention’s website. Thanks for helping make VUMC safer for our patients and each other.
