At NYU Langone, we’re committed to providing you with the highest level of medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also ensuring your safety at our facilities.

Masks are required to be worn upon arrival at all of our locations, even if you have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Limiting the number of visitors to our locations helps us to maintain safety standards. Read about our current visitor policies.

Learn more about steps we are taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and provide the safest possible environment for our patients and staff, as well as additional information about masks for patients in our emergency departments and hospitals, patients having surgery, and patients coming to a doctor visit.

Safety in Our Emergency Departments and Hospitals

We have rigorous measures in place to ensure your safety in our emergency departments and during a hospital stay, including the following:

• assessing all patients and visitors for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival, including a temperature check
• limiting the number of visitors accompanying patients to our hospitals and emergency departments
• testing patients for COVID-19 when they are admitted to the hospital, even if they have no symptoms
• requiring all staff, patients, and visitors to wear masks at all times regardless of vaccination status

Please do not hesitate to go to the emergency department immediately or call 911 if you are experiencing a serious health concern.

Safety When You Need Surgery and Elective Procedures

All patients are required to be tested for COVID-19 before surgery or other invasive procedures such as colonoscopies or angioplasty, even if you are vaccinated. For elective procedures, testing takes place two to five days before your scheduled procedure. If you receive a positive COVID-19 test result, your doctor may still recommend you receive the procedure if it is urgent, or it may be rescheduled for a later date.

If you are vaccinated, we require proof of vaccination to be uploaded to your NYU Langone MyChart account before your surgery. If you received your vaccination through NYU Langone, the information is automatically added to your account. If you received it elsewhere, please follow our instructions for uploading a copy of your vaccination card.

The COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective at preventing severe disease, but infections can occur after vaccination. Vaccinated people who contract the virus may be able to transmit it to others, even if they have no symptoms.

“Our goal is to identify patients with active infection in order to protect them, our other patients, and our staff from exposure to COVID-19,” says Paresh C. Shah, MD, surgeon-in-chief at NYU Langone.

In our hospitals, we are taking precautions in our operating rooms that allow our doctors and staff to perform surgeries while minimizing the risk of COVID-19 and other infections. All of our operating room staff have been tested for COVID-19, and we are screening all staff daily for fever and other symptoms.

“Not only are we committed to keeping you safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we are maintaining the superior quality standards that NYU Langone is known for,” says Dr. Shah.

Doctor Visits: What You Need to Know

Our outpatient and ambulatory locations are open for appointments. “We are taking extraordinary precautions to make sure our locations are as safe as they can possibly be,” says Andrew Rubin, senior vice president of clinical affairs and ambulatory care. “We are providing ample space in the waiting rooms and where staff are working so we can safely see the patients who need to come in.”

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, please do not arrive at the doctor’s office before first speaking with someone in the office. Your doctor can help you get the care you need by scheduling a video visit, rescheduling for a later date, or ordering a COVID-19 test or flu test.

When you come in to see your doctor, you are expected to wear a mask or face covering in accordance with current NYU Langone and New York State guidelines. If you arrive without a mask, you’ll be given one to wear.

All of our clinicians and staff have been tested for COVID-19, and wear masks and other protective equipment. Our offices are cleaned and sanitized throughout the day.

Learn more about safety measures at our imaging services locations.

When to Use Virtual Urgent Care

If you have an urgent medical concern, NYU Langone care providers are available for Virtual Urgent Care appointments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With Virtual Urgent Care, you can video chat with a care provider from a mobile device or computer without leaving home.

Virtual Urgent Care is covered by most insurance providers, and is available to current NYU Langone patients and those who are new to NYU Langone. Our care providers can see adults and children age 5 and older. While many NYU Langone doctors offer video visits, Virtual Urgent Care can be a convenient option if you need to see a doctor right away.

If you have flu-like symptoms, we recommend staying home and using Virtual Urgent Care for an initial consult—for your own comfort and safety, and to avoid spreading illness to others.

However, if you’re experiencing a medical emergency, including difficulty breathing, seek immediate care by calling 911 or going to your nearest emergency department.