UNMC employees and students should continue to report a positive COVID-19 test or suspected COVID-19 symptoms to Employee Health or Student Health.
Individuals may return to campus after five days of isolation; masking will be required for the following five consecutive calendar days. A negative COVID-19 test is not required to return to campus. Those currently in COVID-19 isolation will follow the current protocol.
Masking changes
The Nebraska Medicine mask-optional guidance went into effect April 3.
UNMC faculty, staff and students must follow the recommendations of its clinical partners for masking in clinical spaces. UNMC faculty, staff and students who currently have an exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine requirement may follow the optional masking guidelines.
Nebraska Medicine also provided the following clarifications for the masking policy:
- At this time, masks are required for staff in the following locations:
- Direct patient care areas in which care is being administered to a patient (such as exam rooms, inpatient rooms and other treatment spaces) at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and Heartland Hematology and Oncology in Kearney, Nebraska, as well as cancer patient care areas in Bellevue Medical Center and Village Pointe Health Center.
- Masks are required for staff, patients and visitors at all times while inside the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, level seven, Special Care Unit.
- Masks are strongly recommended for patients and visitors in other direct care areas for cancer patients.
- Masks are required for staff and visitors who enter the room of new solid organ transplant patients or any lung transplant patient at all phases and areas of care.
- Masks are optional for staff and visitors who enter the room of all other transplant patients.
- Masks are strongly encouraged for staff and patients in the Multi-Organ Specialty Clinic and all outpatient settings.
- Masks are optional in all other areas except:
- When providing care for an immunocompromised patient (following pre-pandemic personal protective equipment protocols).
- When requested by a patient or visitor.
- Direct patient care areas in which care is being administered to a patient (such as exam rooms, inpatient rooms and other treatment spaces) at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and Heartland Hematology and Oncology in Kearney, Nebraska, as well as cancer patient care areas in Bellevue Medical Center and Village Pointe Health Center.
- All Nebraska Medicine colleagues who currently have an exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine requirement will transition to the optional masking guidelines.