Houston VA
Medical Center Update

New COVID-19 Health Protection Guidelines

Good Afternoon Veterans and family members,

You have been amazing in your flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. As we’ve learned about the virus and its surges, we have changed our approach to keeping VA facilities safe for you, our staff and visitors.

As we move into the endemic phase, our goal is to provide maximum care to patients while adjusting safety protocols as COVID-19 goes up and down in our community. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, our current transmission level in the community is high. As such, here are the health protection guidelines you need to be aware of before you enter one of our facilities: 

• Masks required
• Self-screening. Contact your primary care team before visiting any of our locations if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
• No more than 2 visitors allowed per inpatient
• To reduce the number of people in our facilities, if you are able, please come alone to your outpatient medical appointments.  
• Physical distancing required.

Beginning next week, we will monitor the local COVID-19 community transmission rate weekly and update the VHA COVID-19 Health Protection Levels  at the Houston VA medical center and clinics when needed.

We are notifying Veterans and staff of the VHA COVID-19 Health Protection Levels by displaying signage at all facility entrances and updating levels on our local facility website: VA Houston Health Care | Veterans Affairs.

Our main medical center and community-based outpatient clinics remain open and operational and we encourage you to seek care whenever you need it.  We do offer virtual appointments through many of our clinics.  If you have a question, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Houston VA care team.  

Thank you so much for your patience over the past few couple of years. VA’s end goal is to always keep our Veterans safe, while providing the best possible care.