Masks Optional at Some Methodist Clinics Beginning Oct. 17

Effective Monday, Oct. 17, masking will be optional at clinic locations not located within a Methodist Health System hospital.

More Details About This Change

• Methodist will follow revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in terms of transmissibility ratings (low, moderate and high) in clinic settings.
• If community spread is categorized as low, masking will be optional in Methodist Physicians Clinic locations and hospital-based clinics for patients and staff. 
• Cancer centers located at Methodist Hospital, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and Methodist Fremont Health will continue masking requirements.
• In order to stay in compliance with current Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidance related to vaccinations, any staff member who has a COVID vaccine waiver will still be required to mask.
• Masking policies for all hospital settings will remain unchanged.
• Clinics located within the acute hospitals – Methodist Hospital, Methodist Women’s Hospital, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and Methodist Fremont Health – will be required to follow current mandatory masking requirements.
• Our geographical area is currently categorized as having low transmissibility. Should transmission levels rise to high, Methodist Health System will be required to reinstate masking requirements in all areas.

We encourage our patients and staff to continue to be vigilant regarding potential COVID-19 exposures, monitor and report COVID-like symptoms, and stay up-to-date on physical exams and vaccinations.