Visitor Restrictions Due to COVID-19
Last updated March 12, 2021
During COVID-19, the rules for visiting patients in our hospitals fall into three categories: Visitation Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. The current level can change at any time, so look here for the latest information before you go.
Current level: We are at Visitation Level 1. Check the chart below to see the rules and restrictions for that level. The existing visitor limitations for Ambulatory and Periop areas remain unchanged.
Your safety is our highest priority. All visitors must wear masks over their nose and mouth, and under their chin AT ALL TIMES. Visitors who don't comply with this rule will be asked to leave.
Video visits through applications such as Zoom and FaceTime are preferred. Our staff can help you set one up or click here for instructions. If you're visiting in person, you must complete a health screener on site before entering or use our COVID-19 Self-Screener app to complete the screening process before you arrive.
General Visitation Level Guide
All patients being admitted to an inpatient area will be tested for COVID-19. Visitors are not allowed in patient care areas until a negative result has been received for the patient.
| General Visitation Level 1: Inpatient Areas (Patients Without COVID-19) | |||
| Patient Population | Visitors | Hours/Duration | Notes |
| Adult Inpatient | One healthy visitor | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. | No overnight visitors, can switch every 24 hours. |
| Pediatric Inpatient | One healthy caregiver |
One caregiver all hours. Second caregiver 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. | Two primary caregivers on visitor list, can switch caregivers twice per day. |
| Birth Center (Labor & Delivery/Maternity) | One healthy caregiver | All hours | Two primary caregivers on visitor list. Caregivers allowed to switch every 12 hours if needed. Doulas allowed during the labor phase of admission only. |
| Parnassus Emergency Department | No general visitation | Visitors are allowed only for patients with specific caregiving needs. | |
| Mission Bay Emergency Department | One healthy visitor for pediatric patients | All hours | |
| Inpatient Adult Surgery | One healthy visitor | During surgery hours | Escort to Surgical Waiting Area only. Necessary visitation in Pre-Op/PACU. Must wait off-site or in designated waiting areas. |
| Inpatient Pediatric Surgery | Two healthy visitors | During surgery hours | One caregiver can wait in Surgical Waiting Area during procedure. Second caregiver asked to wait off-site due to space constraints. |
| General Visitation Level 2: Inpatient Areas (Patients Without COVID-19) | |||
| Patient Population | Visitors | Hours/Duration | Notes |
| Adult Inpatient | One healthy visitor | 2 - 8 p.m. | No overnight visitors, switch every 24 hours. |
| Pediatric Inpatient | One healthy caregiver | One caregiver all hours. Second caregiver 2 - 8 p.m. | Can switch caregivers twice a day. |
| Birth Center (Labor & Delivery/Maternity) | One healthy caregiver | All hours | Can switch caregivers twice per day. Doulas allowed during the labor phase of admission only. |
| Parnassus Emergency Department | No general visitation. | Visitors are allowed only for patients with specific caregiving needs. | |
| Mission Bay Emergency Department | One healthy visitor for pediatric patients | All hours | |
| Inpatient Adult Surgery | One healthy visitor | During surgery hours | Escort to Surgical Waiting Area only. Necessary visitation in Pre-Op/PACU. Must wait off-site or in designated waiting areas. |
| Inpatient Pediatric Surgery | Two healthy visitors | During surgery hours | One caregiver can wait in Surgical Waiting Area during procedure. Second caregiver asked to wait off-site due to space constraints. |
| General Visitation Level 3: Inpatient Areas (Patients Without COVID-19) | |||
| Patient Population | Visitors | Hours/Duration | Notes |
| Adult Inpatient | No general visitation | Necessary visitation granted by exception. | |
| Pediatric Inpatient | One healthy caregiver | All hours | Can switch caregivers twice a day in the hospital lobby. |
| Birth Center (Labor & Delivery/Maternity) | One healthy caregiver | All hours | Can switch caregivers twice per day. Doulas suspended due to surge. |
| Parnassus Emergency Department | No general visitation | Visitors are allowed only for patients with specific caregiving needs. | |
| Mission Bay Emergency Department | One healthy visitor for pediatric patients | All hours | |
| Inpatient Adult Surgery | No general visitation | Necessary visitation granted by exception. | |
| Inpatient Pediatric Surgery | One healthy visitor | During surgery hours | |
The following restrictions apply to COVID-19 patients and outpatients regardless of the current visitation level.
| General Visitation: Inpatient Areas (Patients With COVID-19) | |||
| Patient Population | Visitors | Hours/Duration | Notes |
| COVID-19 Adult | Video visits only | All hours | Exceptions made at the end of life. |
| COVID-19 Pediatric | One healthy guardian | All hours | |
| General Visitation: Outpatient Area | |||
| Patient Population | Visitors | Hours/Duration | Notes |
| Ambulatory Clinics | No general visitation | Clinic hours | One caregiver is allowed on advance request for patients with specific caregiving needs. |
| Cancer Center/Infusion | No general visitation | Clinic hours | One caregiver is allowed on advance request for patients with specific caregiving needs. |
| Dental Center | No general visitation | Clinic hours | One visitor is allowed for patients with specific caregiving needs. |
| Outpatient Surgery/Procedures | No general visitation | While surgery is in progress | Visitors are welcome in designated waiting areas. |
| Outpatient Radiology | No general visitation | While procedure is in progress | One caregiver is allowed on advance request for patients with specific caregiving needs. |
The Visitation leadership team will recommend moving to more restrictive visitation levels when at least two of the criteria for a stricter visitation are met. The Visitation leadership team will recommend moving to less restrictive visitation levels when all three of the criteria for the lower level are met.
| Guide to Visitation Levels |
|||
| Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
|
| UCSF Surge Status (7 days in new range) |
Green or Yellow (0-40 patients) |
Orange (41-60 patients) | Red (Greater than 60 patients) |
| Shelter in Place Order for SF |
Not active |
Not active | Active |
| Test Positivity (7-day average) |
Less than 5.0% |
Less than 6.0% | Greater than 6.0% |
Exceptions for Inpatient, Emergency Department, Birth Center, Surgery and Ambulatory Visiting (Necessary Visitation)
- Visits to patients who are at the end of their life (have less than seven days to live, are on comfort care, or are being discharged to hospice as their next level of care).
- Visits by anyone who is legally authorized to make decisions for the patient, whether by operation of a durable power of attorney (DPOA) or conservatorship, or in the role of a surrogate decision-maker as recognized by the care provider team for patients who lack decisional capacity.
- Support people for patients with cognitive impairment or other neurological injury (such as stroke) or for patients who have developed hospital delirium or dementia, where the consistent presence of the visitor is necessary to reduce the risk of medical or clinical harm.
- Support people for patients who require assistance because of developmental disabilities, physical disabilities or limitations, or cognitive impairment.
- Visits by family and legal advisers to update a patient's will or other legal papers.
- Unique situations in which the visiting needs should be discussed with the on-site nursing director.
Additional Exception: Birth Center (Labor & Delivery/Maternity)
- Doulas will be allowed in addition to the one essential visitor for all Birth Center patients while they are in labor (subject to change based on COVID-19 surge status).
Additional Exceptions: Inpatient Stay and Come-and-Go Surgeries
- Visits by anyone who is legally authorized to make decisions for the patient, whether by operation of a DPOA or conservatorship, or in the role of a surrogate decision-maker as recognized by the care provider team for patients who lack decisional capacity.
- Support people for patients with physical or developmental disabilities who require assistance (for example, patients with severe hearing loss, dementia or aphasia and patients who are wheelchair-bound or have a left ventricular assist device).
- Minors are allowed one adult visitor.
- Family members of patients who are in end-of-life care or experiencing an acute life-threatening event that makes them unlikely to survive the current hospital stay, in the judgment of the health care team.
- Patients and family members who would benefit from face-to-face caregiving instructions, either because of the complexity of the material or because of the needs of the patient or caregivers.
Additional Exceptions: Ambulatory Clinic Appointments
- Evaluations for transplant that require the clinical team to make sure a comprehensive support system is in place for the patient and assess the support person's ability to comply with the post-transplant expectations, per United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines.
- For pediatric clinics and the birth center: All patients with an appointment in a pediatric clinic or pediatric infusion center may be accompanied by a caregiver. (This is not limited to patients under age 18, because older patients may have developmental issues that require a caregiver.)
- Surgical patients of the Orthopaedic Institute may be accompanied by a caregiver or support person who is their source of transportation.
Cancer Center Visiting (Necessary Visitation)
- In-person visitors and caregivers are allowed only if given advance approval, due to the risk of exposure for patients, medical providers and staff.
- We recognize how challenging it is to receive medical care for cancer and that sometimes it’s essential for a caregiver to accompany you to an appointment. Please contact your care coordinator to discuss your request, so we can work with you.
- If approved, one adult visitor or essential caregiver per patient will be allowed to enter after successful screening at the building or clinic entrance. However, smaller sites that lack sufficient space for safe physical distancing won't be able to allow a visitor.
- In some cases, visitors will not be able to stay for in-person participation in the specifics of the visit or treatment but may have the option to participate via video applications such as Zoom or FaceTime.
- The staff will continually assess the physical space and length of visit to determine whether the visitor can safely remain.
- Our infusion and radiation therapy centers have limited space, so visitors may stay only as an exception. Patients scheduled for these treatments should speak with the staff ahead of time to determine whether a visitor may accompany them. Such decisions will be made on a visit-by-visit basis. Patients should not show up with a visitor if not already approved.
- During this challenging time, we ask that patients and visitors follow the staff's directions and understand that the evolving circumstances will result in variation at our different sites and centers. Consequently, a patient and visitor may be able to stay together for an office visit, but the next time they come – even to the same practice – the visitor may be asked to wait outside.
Information for Families of Patients in Our Hospitals
- Patients and their loved ones must designate a single individual to be the point of contact for all information and conversations with the health care team.
- The designated point of contact will be responsible for sharing information with family members or loved ones who should have this information.
- The designated point of contact will hear from a care team member at least once a day for regular updates or more frequently if the patient's condition or treatment changes significantly.
- Some exceptions may apply, as determined by the health care team.
COVID-19 Self-Screener
Everyone entering UCSF campus or health facilities must complete a daily self-screening survey. You can use our on-demand COVID self-screener from your mobile phone before coming on campus – or when you arrive – by visiting tiny.ucsf.edu/entry on your mobile phone or by scanning the QR code below.
Your privacy: Responses to the self-screening are only used to determine whether you have symptoms of or potential exposure to COVID-19. Learn more: Privacy Policy for the Symptom Screening Program
Smoke-Free Policy
UCSF is a smoke-free environment. Smoking in and around the hospitals and affiliated sites is prohibited. Hospital patients who smoke will receive nicotine replacement therapy and counseling by our smoking cessation team. Nicotine replacement products are available in our hospital gift shops.