Updated December 22, 2020

The health and safety of our patients, families and staff members is our top priority. Our care partner visitation guidelines balance preventing the spread of COVID-19 with the needs of our patients and their loved ones. 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 18 or older, except for those under 18 who are parents of patients.

We continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in our community, and may update the guidelines as needed to provide safe care to everyone.

The State of Maryland’s Support Persons for Individuals with Disabilities (PDF)

Outpatient Guidelines

The following guidelines are for care partners accompanying patients at a Johns Hopkins Medicine care center who do not require an overnight stay. 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 18 or older, except for those under 18 who are parents of patients.

Care partners for outpatient areas must go through a visitor exception process. Please note that all exceptions require approval, so please talk to your doctor or care team. Please review the guidelines below for information about types of visitor exceptions.

If a care partner is approved for a visitor exception, it is important to review the Care Partner Guidelines: What You Need to Know section before you come to the hospital so you understand what is expected.

Outpatient Facilities

Ambulatory surgery centers

• No care partners.
• Exception:
  • One parent/guardian may accompany pediatric patients. 
  • One care partner at a time may accompany a patient with a disability (ADA) who needs assistance. Two care partners may be identified so they can take turns being with the patient.
  • Please speak with your care team about visitor exceptions.

Adult office visits at any Johns Hopkins Medicine facility

• No care partners.
• Exception:
  • One care partner at a time may accompany a patient with a disability (ADA) who needs assistance. Two care partners may be identified so they can take turns being with the patient.
  • Please speak with your care team about visitor exceptions.

Pediatric office visits at any Johns Hopkins Medicine facility

• One parent/guardian may accompany pediatric patients; no one else (including siblings) may accompany the parent/guardian and patient to the visit.
• If a patient arrives with additional household members, your care team's leadership will work with the patient/family to provide guidance on a case-by-case basis. Family members who are not within the household will not be permitted. Family members who are not able to safely physical distance within the waiting area will be taken to a designated area within the practice.

Adult same-day surgery/procedure

• No care partners.
• Exception: One care partner at a time may accompany a patient with a disability (ADA) who needs assistance. Two care partners may be identified so they can take turns being with the patient.
• Please speak with your care team about visitor exceptions.

Obstetrics, maternal/fetal medicine, fetal assessment, fetal therapy or perinatal ultrasound

• No care partners.
• Exception: One care partner at a time may accompany a patient with a disability (ADA) who needs assistance. Two care partners may be identified so they can take turns being with the patient.
• Please speak with your care team about visitor exceptions.

Inpatient Guidelines

For patients who need to stay overnight at a Johns Hopkins Medicine hospital, we are using four color-coded visitation risk levels — purple, red, yellow and green — to determine if care partners may safely visit patients during their hospital stay. These levels are based primarily on COVID-19 activity in the community. Purple is the most limited level and green is the most open.

It is important to review the Care Partner Guidelines: What You Need to Know section before you come to the hospital so you understand what is expected.

Updated November 25, 2020

Determining Visitation Levels

Johns Hopkins Medicine is using four visitation risk levels — purple, red, yellow and green — to protect patients, their care partners and our staff and limit the spread of COVID-19. The visitation risk levels are based on the number of COVID-19 cases in the community, according to state and county public health information, as well as hospital conditions.

Risk levels are assessed weekly.

You can learn about the visitation levels by using the links below. 

LEVEL PURPLE: Most limited visits

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

In the critical level, all care partners/visitors must 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 is allowed per patient who has an approved exception. Exceptions may be granted under the following circumstances:

• A patient with a disability who needs assistance. Two care partners may be identified to take turns visiting.
• Patients undergoing emergency surgery related to a traumatic event.
• Patients with rehabilitation or cognitive needs whose care team has scheduled care-partner training.
• Patient and care partner discharge education when in-person bedside education is required.

Purple Level Visitation Guidelines

LEVEL RED: More limited visits

Please review the guidelines below for visits. It is also very important to review the Care Partner Guidelines: What You Need to Know section before you come to the hospital so you can be sure you understand what is expected. Since most care partners are restricted due to safety during a red level, please review the Resources to Connect Virtually to Patients section to find other ways to visit.

In the red level, all care partner/visitor must request a visitor exception. All exceptions require review and approval before a care partner may arrive, so please talk to your provider or care team.

One care partner is allowed per patient who has an approved exception. Approved exceptions include:

• A patient with a disability (ADA) who needs assistance. Two care partners may be identified to take turns visiting.
• Patients in the intensive care (ICU) or intermediate care units (IMC).
• Patients who have been in hospital for 3 days or more.
• Patients undergoing emergency surgery related to a traumatic event.
• If the patient’s care team schedules care partner training for patients with rehabilitation or cognitive needs.
• Patient and care partner discharge education when in-person bedside education is required.

Red Level Visitation Guidelines

LEVEL YELLOW: Some limits to visits

Please review the guidelines below for visits. It is also very important to review the Care Partner Guidelines: What You Need to Know section before you come to the hospital so you can be sure you understand what is expected.

Please note, care partners must communicate their name to hospital staff and have the information entered into the hospital’s records before they can visit the patient at the hospital. This may be done at admission, before a scheduled surgery or by a patient’s care team.

Exceptions include:

• A patient with a disability (ADA) who needs assistance. Two care partners may be identified to take turns visiting.
• Patients undergoing emergency surgery related to a traumatic event.
• If the patient’s care team requests the visitor to be a part of scheduled care partner training for patients with rehabilitation or cognitive needs.
• Patient and care partner discharge education when in-person bedside education is required.

Yellow Level Visitation Guidelines

LEVEL GREEN: More open to visits

Please review the guidelines below for visits. It is also very important to review the Care Partner Guidelines: What You Need to Know section before you come to the hospital so you can be sure you understand what is expected.

Please note, care partners must communicate their name to hospital staff and have the information entered into the hospital’s records before they can visit the patient at the hospital. This may be done at admission, before a scheduled surgery or by a patient’s care team.

Exceptions include:

• A patient with a disability (ADA) who needs assistance. Two care partners may be identified to take turns visiting.
• Patients undergoing emergency surgery related to a traumatic event.
• If the patient’s care team requests the visitor to be a part of scheduled care partner training for patients with rehabilitation or cognitive needs.
• Patient and care partner discharge education when in-person bedside education is required.

Green Level Visitation Guidelines

Care Partner Guidelines: What You Need to Know

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

Please review the different visitation levels above before accompanying a patient. The number of care partners welcomed will depend on the area of the hospital and patient circumstances.

• Care partners will be screened daily for COVID-19 symptoms through a verbal screening when entering the building or in advance by using the Johns Hopkins mobile COVID screening via smartphone, and they will not be able to stay if they:
  • Feel sick.
  • Have COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms.
  • Tested positive for COVID-19 within the last three weeks.
  • Have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last two weeks.
  • Have been asked to be on home quarantine or isolation.
• Face masks are required to enter any of our care facilities and expected to be worn at all times. We will provide a mask if needed. Neck gaiters, bandanas and masks with exhalation valves are not permitted to be worn as face coverings at Johns Hopkins Medicine facilities.
• Follow all physical distancing and hand hygiene guidelines.

In addition, all care partners for inpatients must follow these safety precautions:

Please note, care partners for inpatients must communicate their name to hospital staff and have the information entered into the hospital’s records before they can visit the patient at the hospital. This may be done upon admission, before a scheduled surgery or by a patient’s care team.

• Arrive at the hospital between 8 a.m.–7 p.m. with the exception of care partners/parents/guardians for emergency room and pediatric patients.
• Be screened daily for COVID-19 symptoms through either a verbal screening when entering the building or in advance by using Johns Hopkins’ mobile COVID screening via smartphone.
• Wear an approved face mask at all times, including in the patient's room.
  • These face coverings are not approved: bandanas, gaiters and masks with exhalation valves.
  • Face masks may be removed for eating and drinking. Please put your face mask back on as soon as you are done.
  • If you are eating or drinking and someone enters the room, such as a care team member, you must put your face mask on immediately.
• Practice physical distancing (including to the extent possible in the patient’s room).
• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer often, including upon entry or exit from the patient’s room.
• Remain in the patient’s room, except to get food inside the hospital and then return to the room, or to exit for the day.
• Alert the care team if an overnight stay is planned. A new COVID-19 screening is required each day.
• If the care partner needs to leave the hospital during their visitation, they may not return on the same day.
• If care partners are permitted to rotate, the new care partner may arrive the day after the current care partner exits the hospital (care partners for patients at the end of life may change on the same day).

Important Details

• Visitation risk levels will be evaluated every Friday morning with changes taking effect Monday morning.
• Visitation risk level will be communicated at front entrances and on digital displays.
• If conditions worsen, we will initiate and communicate further restrictions, as needed.

Resources to Connect Virtually to Patients

During all visitation risk levels, we encourage phone and video visits. See a list of resources to connect to loved ones in the hospital. Our care staff can help set this up.

Patient Belongings and Essential Items

If a care partner is unable to visit due to safety restrictions or other reasons and the patient requires essential items from home, these items may be dropped off at the following locations. Please only bring essential items, such as hearing aids, glasses, dentures, communication devices (mobile phones, laptops, chargers), and small, inexpensive spiritual or religious items. Each hospital has a specific location for dropping off items.

• The Johns Hopkins Hospital: Items may be dropped off at the front desk at the Zayed, Weinberg and Nelson buildings.
• Sibley Memorial Hospital: Items may be dropped off at screening tables in Buildings A, B and D.
• Suburban Hospital: Items may be dropped off at the main hospital entrance and given to the security officer at the information desk. Security will be responsible for tracking and delivering items to the clinical areas.
• Howard County General Hospital: Items may be dropped off at the visitor entrance.
• Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center: Items may be dropped off at the red awning entrance.
• Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital: Items may be brought in by parents or guardians.

JHH Friendly Faces

To help connect patients with their loved ones, we have created a way for friends and families to share pictures with hospital patients through email. Simply email your favorite photos to JHH Friendly Faces at jhhfriendlyfaces@jh.edu, and a staff member will print up to eight photos per patient and deliver them to the patient’s bedside. Please make sure to include the patient’s full name and room number in the email. The goal of JHH Friendly Faces is to help our Johns Hopkins community feel a little closer to the people and things they care about during this stressful time.