The information on this page is for UCSF faculty, staff and learners and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals faculty. For patient information, visit UCSF Health’s COVID-19 Information for Patients & Visitors or COVID-19 Vaccines at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals websites.
Updated May 1, 2024
New UCSF Masking Guidance
- As of May 1 at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and May 6 at UCSF West Bay campuses, face masks are now optional in all areas of the University. UCSF Fresno should follow its current local and institutional policies for masking.
- Face masks are required only in areas where patient care is delivered during the following time periods:
- During every respiratory viral season, from November 1 to April 30 and
- During sustained periods of high community transmission of respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza
- For more information, review the FAQs for UCSF Health Masking Guidance.
- Masking requirements in classroom meetings for credit-bearing courses that are part of the curriculum within any of the schools is at the deans' discretion.
- Please respect and support everyone's individual decisions, including those who choose to continue to wear a mask.
- Wearing a mask helps protect others in our community who may be immunocompromised or at greater risk for serious illness.
- Masks differ in the degree of protection they provide. N-95 respirators provide the highest level of protection, followed by K-95, surgical masks, and Cal OSHA-accepted cloth masks.
UCSF Campus and Health Buildings | Face-covering Guidelines
Masking is optional in all of the following locations:
- Outdoors
- Indoors
- Elevators
- Shuttles & Shuttle Stops
- Break spaces with food and beverage
- Dining areas and cafeterias
- Childcare
- Classrooms (at the discretion of dean of the school)
- Patient care spaces, except during respiratory viral season from November 1 to April 30 and during sustained periods of high community transmissions of respiratory virus.