Visitor information
Updated September 16, 2022
We are limiting visitors in UC Davis Medical Center to help keep COVID-19 out of the hospital. This careful decision was made in an effort to protect our patients, staff and community.
Visitors are allowed if they meet the criteria in our visitor policy below. The policy applies to inpatient and outpatient services within the UC Davis Medical Center hospital building, and also to the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. It applies for both adult and pediatric patients.
Some of our care services may also have additional policies about the number of visitors allowed. Their policies are also listed below. Examples include our Emergency Department, our birth center, our surgery services, the NICU and PICU, and our outpatient or “ambulatory” care facilities.
All of our visitor policies are subject to change at any time. Changes may not be listed on this website. Please follow any instructions given by our staff.
Thank you for your understanding! Please see below for more information and options.
1. Screening and check-in are required before entering
Visitors will be screened for signs of general illness and welcomed between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Visitors must check in at the Guest Relations desk in the lobby, where they will be given a visitor badge.
2. Masking requirements are still in effect
Visitors will be provided a hospital-grade mask that they are required to wear. Cloth masks are not allowed.
Masks must cover both the nose and mouth for the entire length of the visit, or visitors will be asked to wait outside.
3. Visitors with COVID, or COVID symptoms, are not allowed
In all cases, visitors are only allowed if they do not have symptoms of illness (such as fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath).
Visitors and caregivers who are COVID-positive are not allowed. This includes parents and guardians.
4. Special policies for visiting COVID-positive patients
Sometimes visitors may be limited for COVID-positive patients during the quarantine period. For example, see the specific circumstances listed below:
- Two visitors are allowed to visit adult patients (including patients who are COVID-positive) in the hospital, and will be able to rotate with other family members or friends. There is not a limit on the number of visitors who can visit; however, only two visitors per patient will be allowed inside the hospital at a time.
- Adult COVID-positive patients at the end of life, or having physical, intellectual, cognitive and/or developmental disabilities, may have one support person (who is determined essential to care or deemed medically necessary), stay and quarantine with the patient, so long as the support person does not leave the room.
- For pediatric COVID-positive patients, two asymptomatic parents/legal guardians may stay and quarantine in the patient’s room, so long as the parent/guardian has no more than mild COVID-19 symptoms. If a parent/guardian does leave the room, they can no longer stay with the child. (Meals will be provided.)
Patients in the NICU: If parents/guardians are COVID-positive or have any symptoms of illness, they are not permitted to enter the NICU. One caregiver will be able to visit, as long as they are not from the same household with the COVID-positive parents/guardians. - Obstetrical/Postpartum and Labor and Delivery COVID-positive patients may have one support person stay and quarantine with the patient, so long as the support person does not leave the room.
- Visitors for COVID-positive patients may be restricted at other specific locations or times, such as in the Emergency Department and before or after surgery. Please follow the specific policies for the unit you are visiting, and check with staff if you have any questions.
In any of these scenarios, visitors will be screened for flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, or sore throat. Visitors are required to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth for the entire time and length of the visit.
Visitors entering an isolation room (including patients who are COVID-positive) will be instructed about the appropriate use of personal protective gear such as gowns, gloves, masks and/or goggles. Visitors are required to wear this gear as instructed by our staff.
Note: These visitor policies are subject to change at any time.
5. The number of visitors allowed per patient is limited
The number of visitors can vary based on location. See below.
Two visitors are allowed to visit a patient in the hospital, and visitors will be able to rotate with other family members or friends. There is not a limit on the number of visitors who can visit; however, only two visitors per patient will be allowed inside the hospital at a time.
Visitors under the age of 16 are generally not permitted.
Note: These visitor policies are subject to change at any time.
- Emergency Department patients can have one designated visitor (with no symptoms of illness) at the bedside. This visitor can rotate with a different (designated) visitor once every 24 hours.
- For pediatric patients, two parents/legal guardians are allowed, and must remain at the patient's bedside.
- No visitors are allowed under the age of 18.
- Patients admitted or in the Admission Pathway or North 1 Unit may visit from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Note: These visitor policies are subject to change at any time.
- For surgical patients whose visitors use the Main Pavilion Surgical Waiting Room (3rd floor) or the Same Day Surgery Waiting Room, each patient may have two adult visitors. Rare exceptions may be made to have one visitor in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) for a short period of time (10 minutes).
- For pediatric surgical patients whose visitors use the Children’s Surgery Center Surgical Waiting Room (2nd floor), each patient may have two adult visitors. Rare exceptions may be made based on the limited ability to have visitors in the Children's Surgery Center's Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) for short periods of time.
In pediatrics units and the PICU:
- Each patient can have four total visitors. This includes parents. Only two visitors may be at the bedside at any given time. The name of all four visitors names must be entered into a visitor management order. Visitors must be 16 years and older, and must be fully vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19.
- The two visitors are generally allowed to stay in the hospital 24/7.
- If the child patient is COVID positive, then two visitors may stay 24/7 (for more information, see Section #5 on this page about visiting COVID patients).
In the NICU:
- Visitors must wear N95 masks.
Note: These visitor policies are subject to change at any time.
- Labor and Delivery patients may have up to two support persons/partners, depending on the situation.
- If desired, one preapproved doula can also be present if prior arrangements have been made with the hospital and the doula follows hospital personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection-control guidelines. View our birth center visitor page for more information. Call the University Birthing Suites at 916-703-3030 to begin the doula preapproval process.
Patients who are at the end of life may have two loved ones at a time at the bedside, and may rotate additional loved ones.
Patients who have an appointment at UC Davis ambulatory clinics, UC Davis Cancer Center, laboratory, or radiology may have one support person with them. There may be some exceptions in limited pediatric situations, or when another person is needed as part of the patient’s care team.
(These facilities usually serve outpatients, but may still be located on the medical center's Sacramento campus).
Masking policies will be in place for the entire time and length of the visit.
View our policy for outpatient visitors/caregivers at UC Davis Health clinics
6. Visitors must stay in patient rooms
Visitors must stay in the room with the patient during the entire visit.
Visitors may briefly access the cafeteria, while practicing social distancing and keeping time spent in public spaces brief.
7. Alternatives to in-person visiting
- Call the patient on a cell phone
- Use video calling services like FaceTime or Skype
- Use instant messaging services like Facebook Messenger or Snapchat
- Call the patient’s room through the main hospital switchboard at 916-734-2011.
UC Davis Health can provide an iPad for a patient to video call loved ones (via Zoom or other digital platforms).
More coronavirus information
Our goal in introducing these visitor restrictions is to protect you, your loved ones, other patients in the hospital and our staff. Patient and public safety are always our top priorities. Thank you again for your understanding during this difficult time.
For more information about coronavirus/COVID-19 safety and prevention, please visit our coronavirus information and resources page.