Inova Updates Masking Policy

Fairfax, VA — Based on current levels of respiratory illness, effective Sunday, February 1, 2026, Inova will suspend the requirement for universal masking for team members, patients and visitors in our emergency departments (EDs) and Inova GoHealth Urgent Cares.

Masks will continue to be offered to visitors and provided to team members. While everyone must wear a mask in high-risk areas, masking is also recommended in all care sites for anyone who is immunocompromised.

Team member and patient safety has been and continues to be Inova’s top priority. Masking, in addition to practicing good hand hygiene and staying up to date with vaccines, is an effective measure to prevent an infection with a respiratory virus.

Masking continues to be required in high-risk clinical spaces where patients are at high risk for severe illness. These include:

• Inova Fairfax Medical Campus Adult Oncology Unit
• Inova Fairfax Medical Campus Transplant Clinic
• All Neonatal Intensive Care Units
• All Newborn Nurseries
• Pediatric Hem-Onc Clinic
• Pediatric Hem-Onc Inpatient Unit

We will continue to monitor levels of respiratory illness in our community and re-evaluate our selection of high-risk clinical spaces as circumstances warrant.