Visitor Policies | Patients & Visitors | UC Davis Health

Visitor Policies

In an effort to keep patients, visitors and staff safe, UC Davis Health has some visitor restrictions to help limit the spread of viruses and infectious diseases. Please read the following policies, which are subject to change at any time.

Some of our care services may also have additional policies about the number of guests allowed. Before you go, check specific guidelines for the department or unit you are visiting.

Thank you for helping us avoid the spread of infectious diseases in our community.

Updated July 21, 2023

These policies apply to most of our outpatient clinics, include primary care and specialty care clinics. Below are our policies for patients and their guests:

  • Patients should have only two essential caregivers or loved ones with them during an appointment.
    • Note: There may be some exceptions, such as in limited pediatric situations or when another person is needed as part of the patient’s care team.
  • Patients and essential caregivers are no longer required to wear face masks during their clinic appointment and in waiting areas. However, masks will remain available to patients, visitors, and employees who want to wear them.
    • If a patient is coughing or sneezing, we will ask that person to wear a face mask while waiting and during their visit.
    • If a patient requests health care providers or care team members to wear masks, they will do so.
  • If the caregiver or loved one who is with the patient has signs of illness (such as runny nose, sneezing, fever, chills, coughing, etc.), that person should wait for the patient at home or in a vehicle outside the clinic.
  • If a patient has any symptoms of illness (such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, fever or recent fever, headache or muscle aches, etc.), they should tell the front desk or care team. This will allow the care team to take appropriate precautions to avoid the spread of infection.

See maps of our primary and specialty care clinics throughout Northern California

Guests of patients are allowed to visit UC Davis Medical Center and UC Davis Children's Hospital if they meet our policy criteria, which applies to visitors of adult and pediatric patients.

All of our guest policies are subject to change at any time. Changes may not be listed on our website. Please follow any instructions given by our staff.

We have limitations to visitors at UC Davis Health's Emergency Department, as well as the general medical center.

Learn more about our visitor policies for UC Davis Medical Center

Surgical patients whose guests use the Pavilion Surgery Center waiting room (3rd floor of UC Davis Medical Center) or the Same Day Surgery Center waiting room may have two adult guests. Rare exceptions may be made to have one guest in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) for 10 minutes.

Learn more about visiting the Pavilion Surgery Center

Learn more about visiting the Same Day Surgery Center

Pediatric surgical patients whose guests use the Children's Surgery Center waiting room (2nd floor of UC Davis Medical Center) may have two adult guests. 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.

Learn more about visiting the Children's Surgery Center

Important Note: UC Davis Medical Center and UC Davis Children’s Hospital visitor requirements about symptoms of illness and masking still apply.

We have visitor policies for adult and pediatric infusion centers at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. Otherwise, the visitor requirements listed above for primary and specialty care outpatient clinics still apply.

Find out more information about visiting UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Important Note: UC Davis Medical Center and UC Davis Children’s Hospital visitor requirements about symptoms of illness and masking still apply.

Regular visiting hours are generally from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult when visiting the hospital.

Visitors may be required to follow certain procedures, depending on the condition of the patient. Staff will provide specific instructions for visiting these patients.

Learn more about visiting the UC Davis Rehabilitation Hospital