Current Contagious Illnesses

Helping our patients and community make the most informed decisions about their health is important to us. As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, we also want to keep you informed about other contagious illnesses, including Flu, RSV and Monkeypox. And we want you to be aware of our current visitation policy. 

Mask Requirements

With the decrease of COVID-19 rates in our community and the decline in serious COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalization, we’ve made masking optional in some locations of Bayhealth.

Beginning on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, the revised COVID-19 masking guidelines include:

Wearing a mask is optional for patients, visitors, contractors, and staff in the following public areas of Bayhealth:

  • Main entrances (including lobby waiting areas), hallways and elevators
  • Waiting rooms (exceptions noted below)
  • Cafeterias, café, and community pharmacies
  • Outpatient lab and Diagnostic Imaging (DI) locations
  • Other communal areas to include conference rooms, office settings and nurses’ stations

Wearing a mask is required for:

  • Patients and visitors in the following waiting rooms: Emergency Departments, Cancer Centers, Bayhealth Medical Group practices, and Bayhealth Urgent Care/Walk-In
  • Staff, visitors, and contractors when entering patient rooms or within 6 feet of an unmasked patient on the inpatient units or the Emergency Departments; eye protection for staff is also required
  • Symptomatic patients, care partners or companions presenting for outpatient services
  • Inpatients traveling throughout the hospital for care
  • Staff who are caring for known or suspected COVID-19 patients continue to use transmission-based precautions, that includes wearing a respirator (N95/PAPR) and eye protection
  • Staff with COVID-19 vaccine exemptions in all areas of Bayhealth
    (social distance when unmasked during mealtimes)

 

COVID-19

Vaccines

The Division of Public Health Vaccine Call Center can help you with questions about the COVID-19 vaccines and the new bivalent booster. Call 1-833-643-1715 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Or contact Vaccine@delaware.gov to email your questions.

Visit Coronavirus.Delaware.gov/Vaccine to learn more about vaccines and eligibility in Delaware.

Testing

The majority of our primary care offices offer a COVID/Flu PCR test—with results in 20 minutes. We also offer referral-based COVID-19 testing — meaning, if your doctor orders a test, we can provide one for you. Learn about the cost of COVID-19 testing at Bayhealth. 

You can learn more about COVID-19 testing on the Delaware Division of Public Health website.

Flu

The flu season officially started on Oct. 2. With the potential for a severe flu season this year, getting the flu vaccine is your best line of defense against severe illness.

Vaccines

All our primary care offices offer vaccines for adults. We also offer flu vaccines for pediatric patients at Bayhealth Pediatrics, Milford; Bayhealth Family Medicine, Dover; Bayhealth Primary Care, Dover West; Bayhealth Primary Care, Smyrna; Bayhealth Primary Care, Milton; Bayhealth Primary Care, Airport Road; and Bayhealth Primary Care, Georgetown.

To find flu clinics near you, visit the DPH Flu Vaccine Finder website.

Testing

The majority of our primary care offices offer a COVID/Flu PCR test—with results in 20 minutes.

RSV

Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, is a respiratory virus commonly found in children. It usually causes cold-like symptoms, and most healthy children and adults recover within a week or two. However, infants, children with compromised immune systems and older adults are susceptible to severe illness. The most serious symptoms are labored breathing and wheezing.

If your child is showing symptoms of RSV, you can make an appointment with your Bayhealth doctor through MyChart or use Bayhealth@Home for our virtual urgent care.

Vaccine

There is no vaccine for RSV, but parents are encouraged to get their children vaccinated against other respiratory illnesses, such as flu and COVID-19.

Testing

Our pediatric and primary care offices can test for RSV.

Monkeypox

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by a virus. Just like other viruses, it is contagious and can be spread from person to person.

At Bayhealth, we can test for monkeypox. And we have specific processes in place for patients who test positive for monkeypox to help prevent its spread to keep our staff, patients, and visitors safe.

Visit de.gov/monkeypox for more information about monkeypox, such as:

  • Signs and symptoms
  • Testing
  • Vaccines
  • And more

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