Starting Thursday, Aug. 19, all staff, regardless of vaccination status, who care for a patient with COVID-19 or a person under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19 will be required to wear an N95 respirator. This new guidance applies to both the inpatient and outpatient setting.
N95 respirators will be readily available on your unit or in your clinic. You must be fit to a specific size of N95 respirator—see below for mask fitting information.
Reminder: Eye protection is also required in caring for a patient with COVID-19 or a PUI.
Why we are requiring this
Due to the increased transmissibility of the COVID-19 delta variant, we are requiring all staff—regardless of vaccination status—to wear an N95 respirator while caring for a patient with COVID-19 or PUI.
Need to schedule an N95 respirator fitting?
If you need to schedule an N95 respirator fitting, you can do so by calling the University Employee Health Clinic (UEHC) at 319-356-3631. You may also email employee-health@uiowa.edu to request an appointment. The UEHC is able to accommodate a limited number of drop-in appointments daily. You can find your N95 respirator size by following these directions.
Questions?
Please contact the UEHC with any questions. You can also view the Safety & PPE page on The Loop for additional information.