For Johns Hopkins Medicine (including the School of Medicine)
As the rates of COVID-19 in our communities continue to fall, we are writing to let you know about updates to the JHM COVID-19 requirements for fully vaccinated personnel in certain Johns Hopkins Medicine areas and locations (the school of medicine will follow Johns Hopkins Medicine’s policies).
Updated COVID-19 Guidance, Effective Immediately.
Please note that these newly eased JHM COVID-19 restrictions do not apply to JHM health care facilities or clinical care provided in the District of Columbia or any jurisdiction that has rules and regulations that are more restrictive (e.g. currently D.C. Health guidance remains more restrictive).
Masks in non-clinical areas
- Masks are recommended but no longer required for fully vaccinated personnel working in non-clinical buildings or private areas of clinical buildings (e.g., offices, conference rooms, workrooms, laboratory spaces, break rooms with doors) where there is NO reasonable expectation that you may encounter a patient, care partner or member of the public.
- As a reminder, fully vaccinated is defined as being two weeks beyond the second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks beyond a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
- Unvaccinated personnel with approved exceptions and partially vaccinated personnel must continue to wear a mask in all areas of JHM facilities unless they are alone in a room with the door closed.
- Personnel who return to work on days five through 10 following a COVID-19 diagnosis must follow instructions from Occupational Health Services, including always wearing a mask while in any JHM facilities until after day 10. (Day zero is defined as the date of the onset of symptoms or positive COVID-19 test result, whichever is first.)
Masks in clinical and public areas
- Masks continue to be required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status — whether up to date, fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated or unvaccinated personnel with approved exceptions — whenever personnel are present for any reason in public areas of clinical buildings, patient care areas, home health settings, or any JHM setting where there is a reasonable expectation that you may encounter a patient, care partner or member of the public. This includes all clinical care areas and all public areas such as hallways, cafeterias, etc.
- Masks are still required for all patients and care partners in all clinical areas, and all public areas including in all patient waiting areas.
Eye protection
- Eye protection is recommended, but no longer required, for fully vaccinated personnel caring for patients who are NOT suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19.
- Unvaccinated personnel with approved exceptions and partially vaccinated personnel must continue to wear eye protection for all clinical patient care activities.
- Eye protection is still required for all personnel while providing direct clinical patient care activities for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
- Direct clinical patient care activities still require personal protective equipment (PPE) as appropriate to the situation according to JHM PPE guidance.
Indoor gatherings
- Food may now be served at indoor gatherings.
- Fully vaccinated people are not required to mask if the gathering is in a non-clinical area where there is NO reasonable expectation that you may encounter a patient, care partner or member of the public.
- Unvaccinated personnel with approved exceptions or partially vaccinated individuals must wear a mask. They may remove their mask when eating and drinking but must remain distanced when masks are removed.
