Visitation Policy

San Antonio Regional Hospital and the rest of California hospitals have dropped COVID-19 mask and vaccination mandates for health care settings, according to updated guidance from the state’s health department.

Beginning April 3, health care workers, patients and visitors will no longer be required to wear a mask or be vaccinated to work in facilities that include hospitals, urgent care centers and dental and doctors’ offices. The new rules also apply to correctional facilities as well as homeless, emergency and warming and cooling centers, said the California Department of Public Health.

“Our communities did a lot of the hard work by getting vaccinated and boosted, staying home and testing when sick, requesting treatments when positive, and masking to slow the spread,” said Dr. Tomás Aragón, the state’s health officer, in a statement. “With these critical actions and a lot of patience and persistence, we have now reached a point where we can update some of the COVID-19 guidance to continue to balance prevention and adapting to living with COVID-19.”

San Antonio Regional Hospital will continue to provide masks for those who may feel comfortable wearing them if they so desire.

Visitors have the following requirements:

1. General: All families and other partners in care must stop at the main or ED entrance and at the ED entrance after 8:00 p.m. Families and other partners, 12 years and above, in care will be issued a wrist band The wrist band is to be worn for the duration of that visit.
2. Children: supervised by an adult are welcomed. Children are not restricted by age. Other guidelines may apply.
3. Emergency Department: Two visitors are welcome at the discretion of the healthcare team. Exceptions can be made in unusual situations.
4. Pediatrics: Parents may visit any time. Other guidelines may apply.
5. Maternity: Fathers or significant others may visit patients in the LDRPs or maternity rooms at any time if patient is in a private room. Other guidelines may apply.

• Wear a mask if you feel the need for your health circumstances.
• Wear a mask if you have been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 5 days.
• Wear a mask around others if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, runny nose, and/or sore throat).

If you have questions, please ask a member of our care team to contact the manager on your nursing unit or in the outpatient department for the services you are receiving.