Lang
3/12/23
The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has lifted its pandemic-era mask requirements.
Masks are no longer mandatory for patients and health care workers at the main UIHC facility, the Iowa River Landing location in Coralville, and all other UIHC clinics. Masks are still required for the unvaccinated and those showing signs of a respiratory illness.
Mask requirements from before the pandemic also still apply. Staff and patients are still encouraged to wear masks if they choose to do so.
The scaling back of mask requirements came just ahead of the third anniversary of the first COVID-19 patient being admitted to the UIHC on March 11th, 2020. Hospital officials cite lower COVID-19 numbers and a decline in respiratory illnesses as the reasoning behind the decision.
UIHC employees have been ordered not to ask patients or colleagues to wear masks, or to comment on or suggest mask-wearing to patients.