Brown University Health moving to Respiratory Virus Status: Yellow

Due to high community transmission rates of respiratory viruses, *Brown Health is moving to Respiratory Virus Status Yellow, effective Wednesday, 1/22. This means Level 2 surgical masks are required for patients, visitors, and staff during direct patient care. Please see the Respiratory Virus Status color table for additional PPE guidance.

Staff should wear a Level 2 surgical mask (or N95 if appropriate), covering your nose and mouth, while providing patient care. Masks should be given to family/visitors on arrival to the hospital/clinic, or in the patient care area for use in the patient’s room.

This move is based on rising community respiratory virus rates, increase in hospital admissions due to respiratory viral infections, wastewater COVID levels and incidence of employee respiratory viral illnesses.

If patients or visitors protest the request to mask, please communicate:

• The requirement to mask during patient care is intended to keep everyone safe.

• The requirement is posted on the public website and part of our visitation guidelines.

• We appreciate you putting on the mask while we are in close contact during patient care. You do not have to wear it when alone in the room.

Thank you for your help in communicating this important safety precaution.

*Massachusetts locations are not moving to yellow status at this time—instead, they will follow Massachusetts DOH and local guidelines.