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Vaccines, Boosters & Additional Doses | Testing | Patient Care | Visitor Guidelines | Coronavirus

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Updates

Yellow Visitor Guidelines for Patient Care Partners During COVID-19

Yellow Level Outpatient Care Partner Guidelines - Some Limits

Screen Before You Arrive

Fill out this form to perform a COVID-19 screening before coming to a Johns Hopkins facility. If you are unable to self-screen, you will be screened in person upon entry to the facility.

 LEVEL YELLOW: MEDIUM RISK
Ambulatory Surgery Centers; Hospital-based
Adult Same Day Surgery
  • One adult care partner may be with the patient in the prep area if there is enough space.**
  • The care partner may wait in the surgical waiting room if there is enough space.**
  • One adult care partner may be with the patient in recovery if there is enough space.**
Maternal Fetal Medicine, Fetal Assessment;
Fetal Therapy; or Perinatal Ultrasound
  • One care partner may be with patient throughout the visit, including in waiting areas.*
    • Children under 15 years old that cannot be supervised by the adult patient throughout the visit are not allowed to accompany patient. A person age 15–17 may accompany the patient as a care partner.
Outpatient Radiology 
  • One care partner may accompany the patient to the appointment, and can wait in waiting areas if there is enough space.**
  • No children under 15 may accompany patient to the appointment due to inability to supervise. A person age 15–17 may accompany the patient as a care partner.
Outpatient Cancer Center Clinics; Infusion Suites
  • One adult care partner may be with patient throughout the visit, including in waiting areas if there is enough space.**
  • For infusion suites where there may not be enough space to accommodate a care partner: One adult care partner may accompany patient to and from the patient’s space in the infusion suite and wait in the waiting room during the infusion.
Adult Office Visits at Any Johns Hopkins Medicine Facility
  • One care partner may be with patient throughout the visit, including in waiting areas if there is enough space.**
    • Children under 15 who cannot be supervised by the adult patient throughout the visit are not allowed to accompany patient. Individuals ages 15 –17 may accompany the patient as a care partner.
Pediatric Office Visits at Any Johns Hopkins Medicine Facility
  • Up to two care partners may come with the patient to the visit. The care partners may be two adults, or one adult and one sibling.*
*Care partners who are breastfeeding/chestfeeding an infant age 8 months or younger may bring the infant to appointments if no other care option is available.
** Depending on the size of the space and the number of individuals in an area, the clinical team may ask care partners to wait in an alternative space. If there is not enough seating in waiting areas, please check with the care team about additional options for areas to wait. Due to space limitations, the amount of care partners permitted in waiting rooms may vary by hospital and location.

  • A care partner may be a relative, partner, friend or anyone patients choose to have at their side during care. When permitted by the risk level, children under 18 years old accompanying adult patients to clinic visits must be supervised by an adult at all times.

    In risk levels where no care partner is permitted, a patient with a disability may have one care partner with them in the clinic, and two care partners may be identified so they can take turns being with the patient. Staff may invite a care partner to join discussions about care goals and at-home care instructions, if appropriate.

  • Care partners must follow these safety precautions, even if vaccinated for COVID-19:

    • Wear a face mask that fully covers your nose and mouth at all times. The following face coverings are not allowed: bandanas, gaiters, masks with exhalation valves or clear shield-like face masks. A mask will be provided for you if you need one. Care partners found not wearing a mask may be asked to leave.
    • Participate in screening for COVID-19 symptoms by answering questions when entering a building or by using Johns Hopkins’ COVID-19 screening via smartphone (see instructions below). Care partners and support persons arriving with, or later developing, symptoms of COVID-19 must leave immediately.
    • Practice physical distancing of at least 6 feet.
    • Wash hands or use hand sanitizer often, including upon entering the building and at entry and exit to the clinical care room.
    • If you become symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19 within 3 days of accompanying a patient to their outpatient visit, notify the patient’s provider, nurse or clinic.

    Care partners who do not comply with these guidelines may be asked to leave Johns Hopkins Medicine’s facilities.

  • Do not come to a Johns Hopkins Medicine facility to visit a patient under any circumstances if you:

    • Feel sick, or have symptoms of COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms
    • Tested positive for COVID-19 within the last three weeks
    • Have been advised to get a COVID-19 test, or are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test
    • Have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 within the last two weeks
    • Have been asked to be on home quarantine or in isolation

Please review the Care Partner Guidelines: What You Need to Know section before you arrive so you understand what is expected.

  
 

LEVEL YELLOW: Some limits to visits

Screen Before You Arrive

Fill out this form to perform a COVID-19 screening before coming to a Johns Hopkins facility.

Yellow Level Inpatient Care Partner Guidelines - Some Limits

Type of Inpatient VisitNumber of Care Partners
Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19Adult
  • In certain circumstances, care partner visitation may be approved and arranged with the care team for patients with COVID-19. Please speak with your care team for details and instructions. Care partner must wear protective equipment and follow care team instructions.
  • There is a risk of exposure to COVID-19 for care partners during their visit even with safety measures in place.
Pediatrics
  • One parent or guardian may be present; must stay with the patient in their room throughout the patient’s stay. Parent’s meals will be delivered and eaten in the room with the child.
  • Neonatal intensive care unit policies for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 may vary. Please check with your care team.
Shared Spaces
(e.g., semiprivate rooms,
bays, waiting rooms)
  • Waiting rooms: Care partners may wait in waiting areas if there is enough space for physical distancing.
  • Semiprivate rooms: One care partner per patient may be at the bedside during visiting hours. For example, if there are two patients in the room, each patient may have one care partner at the same time.
Adult patients prior to a surgery or
procedure requiring an inpatient
hospitalization in a private room
  • One care partner may wait in the waiting room if there is enough space for physical distancing.
  • One care partner may be with the patient in the prep area if there is enough space for physical distancing.
  • One care partner may be with the patient in recovery if there is enough space for physical distancing.
  • Once a patient is in an inpatient room, care partner guidelines apply based on indications on this grid.
Emergency Department
(patients in private rooms)
  • Provided there is enough space for physical distancing, one care partner may be with the patient. 
  • When the waiting room is closed to care partners due to lack of space, the care partner will be contacted once the patient is in a private space.
  • One care partner may be at the bedside in private spaces. Must be the same care partner throughout the Emergency Department stay.
Patients requiring aerosol-generating procedures
  • No care partners may be in the patient’s room during the procedure but they may enter once the procedure is done. Care partner must follow instructions from care team members.
End of Life (all patients)
  • Up to two care partners at the bedside at the same time; care partners may switch out throughout the day, for as long as the clinical team deems that it is safe and feasible.
Obstetrics/Labor and Delivery
  • One care partner at the bedside at a time will be permitted for labor, delivery, and duration of birth parent’s hospital stay.
  • Children under 15 years old may visit if accompanied by an adult care partner. Maximum of one child visitor at the bedside at a time. Individuals ages 15–17 may visit independently during visiting hours.
  • Up to four care partners may rotate during visiting hours. To prevent overcrowding in waiting areas, “care partner exchange” must occur outside the hospital or in lobby areas.
  • One certified or registered doula is permitted for labor and non-surgical delivery.
  • One care partner OR one certified or registered doula is allowed in the operating room during surgical delivery.
Psychiatry
  • One care partner may be permitted at the discretion of the clinical team. 
  • There is a limit of one care partner per person, per visit.  It does not have to be the same care partner for the duration of the admission.
  • Time and duration of visit will be determined by clinical team.
  • Please collaborate with your care team to coordinate visits.
Pediatrics
(patients who do not have COVID-19/are
not suspected of having COVID-19)
  • Up to two care partners may be at the bedside at the same time.
  • Care partners must be the parents/guardians or be approved by the parents/guardians.
    • Intensive care units: Visiting hours and guidelines for children may vary. Please check with your care team.
    • General Care Units: Maximum of three siblings and one adult, or two adults and two siblings, may be at the bedside at a time during visiting hours.
  • Care partners may rotate during the day and care partners may stay overnight as long as there are only two care partners at the bedside at a time.
    • Applies to inpatient, all surgeries and procedures, and emergency department visits.
  • For patients having surgery or a procedure at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center or Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital:
    • Two parents/guardians may accompany patient to waiting area, prep area, and recovery area.
All Other Adult Inpatients
(patients in private rooms)
  • One care partner may be at the bedside during visiting hours.
  • Children under 15 years old may visit if accompanied by an adult care partner.
    • Maximum of one care partner and one child at the bedside at a time. 
  • Individuals ages 15–17 may accompany the patient independently during visiting hours. One adult care partner may stay overnight if the care partner is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or has tested negative for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 within 72 hours of the visit. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second shot of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks after a one-dose vaccine.
    • Care partners who plan to stay overnight should carry documentation of vaccination or test results with them and be prepared to show the documentation if asked.
    • Intensive care units may have restrictions on overnight visitation based on space limits. Please check with your care team.
  • Up to four care partners may rotate during visiting hours. To prevent overcrowding in waiting areas, “care partner exchange” must occur outside the hospital or in lobby areas.
  • If the number of care partner rotations is a safety concern for the care team, they will discuss with the patient and arrange a visitation schedule that is safe and feasible.
  • Care team may further restrict visitation for extremely high-risk or immunosuppressed patients.
  • If there is not enough seating in waiting areas, please check with the care team about additional options for areas to wait.
  • Due to space limitations, the amount of care partners permitted in waiting rooms may vary by hospital and location.

  • A care partner may be a relative, partner, friend or anyone the patient chooses to have at their side during care. Care partners must be age 18 or older, except for those who are parents of patients.

  • Care partners must follow these safety precautions, even if vaccinated against COVID-19:

    • Wear a face mask that fully covers your nose and mouth at all times, including when in the patient’s room. The following face coverings are not approved: bandanas, gaiters, masks with exhalation valves or clear shield-like face masks. A mask will be provided for you if you need one. Care partners are not allowed to eat or drink in adult patient rooms or the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Care partners found not wearing a mask may be asked to leave.
    • Be screened daily for COVID-19 symptoms through a verbal screening when entering a building or in advance by using Johns Hopkins’ mobile COVID-19 screening via smartphone (see instructions below). Care partners and support persons arriving with or developing symptoms of COVID-19 must immediately leave the hospital.
    • Practice physical distancing of at least 6 feet (including to the extent possible in the patient’s room).
    • Wash hands or use hand sanitizer often, including upon entering the hospital and at each entry and exit to the patient’s room.
    • If you become symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19 within 3 days of visiting a patient in the hospital, notify the patient’s provider, nurse, or the charge nurse on the patient’s hospital unit.

    Care partners who do not comply with these guidelines may be asked to leave Johns Hopkins Medicine’s facilities.

  • Do not come to a Johns Hopkins facility to visit a patient under any circumstance if you:

    • Feel sick, or have COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms 
    • Tested positive for COVID-19, within the last three weeks 
    • Have been advised to get a COVID-19 test, or are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test
    • Have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 within the last two weeks
    • Have been asked to be on home quarantine or in isolation

  • Visiting hours are as follows:

    • Care partners who can visit adult patients according to the guidelines must arrive at the hospital front entrance between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. and must exit the hospital no later than 9 p.m.
    • Care partners/parents/guardians for patients in the pediatric emergency room and for pediatric inpatients may arrive 24/7.

  • In some cases care partners may need to request a visitor exception. All exceptions require review and approval before a care partner may arrive. Please talk to your provider or care team about an exception.

    One care partner who has an approved exception is allowed per patient. Exceptions may be granted under the following circumstances:

    • A patient with a disability needs assistance.
      • Care partners may take turns being with the patient 24 hours per day, if needed.
      • In private rooms, up to two care partners may be at the bedside at a time.
    • Please speak with your care team about requests for exceptions related to end-of-life visits, discharge education, goals-of-care planning, or traumatic events that require emergency surgery.

  • Johns Hopkins Medicine evaluates its visitation risk levels every week and uses data that monitors the spread of COVID-19 in states and counties to help determine the level.

  

Please review the Care Partner Guidelines: What You Need to Know section before you arrive so you understand what is expected. 

 
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