Hospitals

• Masking is required in all patient care areas at our Concord Medical Center and Walnut Creek Medical Center.   
  • Patient Care Areas: Anywhere direct patient care is delivered and/or where face-to-face patient care is provided. 
    • Concord & Walnut Creek: All patient rooms and exam rooms, as well as diagnostic and treatment areas within the emergency department, radiology, physical therapy and surgical suites.
  • No Masking Required: Hallways, elevators, cafeterias, conference/meeting rooms, nursing stations, central registration*, check-in areas*, waiting areas*, lobbies. (*Masking may be required in some departments.) 
  • Individual departments, such as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), may set their own guidelines, which include masking at all times.
  • Hospital visitors with respiratory symptoms will not be allowed to visit patients with limited exceptions.
• Visitors to Covid+ patients are welcome with use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE); extended time will be granted for end-of-life or cognitive care. Visitors will be restricted to the patient's room only; no lingering in other hospital areas or use of the cafeteria will be permitted.
• Visitors who have been exposed to a Covid+ or a suspected Covid+ person may not visit for 10 days after exposure..

Behavioral Health Center (Inpatient and Outpatient)

• Masking is required inside our Psychiatric Hospital inpatient facility (2740 Grant St. in Concord) in all patient care areas and units.
• Masking is required inside our Behavioral Health Center outpatient facility at 4080 Port Chicago Highway in Concord.

Outpatient, Physician Office and Urgent Care

• Patients with respiratory symptoms will be required to mask at all times at John Muir Health outpatient, physician office and urgent care locations.
  • If someone is accompanying a patient with respiratory symptoms to their appointment, they will be required to mask as well.
• Masking is recommended, but optional if the patient is not symptomatic. 
• Individual departments and facilities may set their own guidelines, which include masking at all times.

Behring Pavilion/Outpatient Specialty Center/Jean & Ken Hofmann Cancer Center

• Masks are required in all patient care areas (patients and visitors).

Respiratory Symptoms that Require Masking

• Patients with respiratory symptoms are required to wear a mask with exceptions while in a private hospital room if no one is present, or physical or cognitive inability to do so. Symptoms include, but are not limited to:  
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Cough 
  • Headache
  • Runny nose 
  • Sore throat 
  • Difficulty breathing
  • New loss of taste or smell or 
  • Other symptoms of a viral infection 
• Patients and visitors may continue to wear a mask at any of our facilities even if it is not required. Masks are available at all John Muir Health locations. 
• Patients at any facility where masking is not currently required when providing direct patient care may request that their providers wear a mask. We want patients and their families to feel comfortable and safe in our health system.

Thank you for your cooperation with this policy.