Updated Masking Guidance

As the COVID-19 pandemic heads toward endemic status, and after careful consideration, many of Michigan’s major health systems, including the Detroit Medical Center, are making masking optional in most areas for patients and staff at all hospitals and locations. Here at the DMC this change is effective Friday, April, 14, 2023. Factors influencing this decision include:

• The number of COVID-19 inpatients has drastically declined across the state.
• There are multiple effective ways to combat the virus, including vaccines and medical treatment.
• The desire to restore the powerful human connection when patients, caregivers and loved ones can see each other’s faces.

We will continue to provide stations with free masks and hand sanitizer at entrances for patients, visitors and team members who choose to use them. Patients can also ask their care teams to wear masks.

Masking guidelines could be adjusted again if COVID-19, flu or any other virus begins to spread rapidly in the community.

Our infection prevention protocols, including a continued focus on hand hygiene, environmental disinfection, and return to work protocols for staff with COVID-19 infection will remain in place.

We will keep you updated should there be any additional changes.