Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. This policy covers all MD Anderson locations, including Houston-area locations and the Texas Medical Center. Adult patients with outpatient clinic appointments, outpatient procedures or surgeries, and patients receiving care in the Acute Cancer Care Center can bring one adult visitor or caregiver (18 and older) who passes entry screening. The patient visitor must be able and willing to wear the provided mask.

Masks are required in all patient care areas regardless of your vaccination status. There's no data available to confirm COVID-19 vaccines prevent transmission of disease. This means you may still get an asymptomatic infection even after you've been vaccinated and/or you could pass it to someone else. Masking keeps everyone safe and reduces the spread of infection.

MD Anderson is committed to the safety of our patients, their visitors and employees. Before a visit, review our current COVID-19 safety processes on our COVID-19 information page.

If you have fever, cough or shortness of breath, contact your care team before your appointment.

Starting June 28, adult patients can bring one adult visitor or caregiver (18 and older) per day.

Everyone in patient care areas must pass entry screening and wear an MD Anderson-issued face mask at all times.

Inpatients can provide the names of up to five visitors but only one person will be permitted on any given day during visitor hours.

Visiting hours will be 3 to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.

Once a visitor leaves for the day, another visitor isn’t permitted until the next day.

Please plan to arrive to your appointment 15 minutes earlier than usual to be able to park and allow time for screening prior to entering the building.

More dining locations at all of our locations will open on Monday, June 28, and offer expanded seating.

To ensure safety, infection control and social distancing protocols will still be in place.

The valet remains closed at this time. We hope to make valet services available later this summer.

The Learning Center in Mays will open Monday, June 28, for patients and their visitors at 50% capacity. Patients and their visitors must social distance and wear MD Anderson-issued face masks while inside. No eating or drinking is allowed. Staff will provide requested materials to patients. 

The Learning Center staff can answer your questions, conduct research and assist you to find answers by email. Contact us at asktlcstaff@mdanderson.org. You may also visit our website mdanderson.org/tlc. If you are seeking cancer health information, visit Recommended Resources at http://mdandersontlc.libguides.com/home. These online guides connect you to the information you need. Many of the booklets that you find in The Learning Center can be found on the Recommended Resources.

Ice and water dispensers in public areas for patients and visitors will resume service Monday, June 28.

Cell phone lots are closing because patients are allowed one visitor per day to accompany them.
 

Volunteers are an important part of the MD Anderson community, and we are committed to their health and safety. Research shows that older adults, cancer survivors, and those with weakened immune systems or serious medical conditions are uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19. For their safety, all MD Anderson volunteer shifts are canceled until further notice. Some employees will be re-deployed to assist our patients until it is possible for volunteers to return.

As of Monday, June 28, the Rotary House skybridge has reopened so patients and visitors can walk between the Rotary House and the Main Building after being screened. The Rotary House skybridge is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. On the weekends, follow the signs to Faculty Center to access the skybridge to the Main Building.

The Rotary house is a mask "recommended" area. This means the use of face masks is recommended but it remains the individual's choice to wear one or not. Please note: Masks are required in patient care areas. Every patient and visitor will be given a face mask when entering our campus. For everyone's safety, we ask that you wear the MD Anderson-issued face mask the entire time you are on our campus. This will replace your cloth mask or a mask you brought from home.

No, guests of all ages are welcome at the Rotary House. For more details on our visitor policy for clinical areas, please review our COVID-19 information page.

Due to our response to COVID-19, all blood donations at MD Anderson Blood Donor Center locations are being held by appointment only to help control donor flow and manage the amount of individuals in one room. We must also be cautious about accepting donors who may have traveled internationally. Therefore, anyone who has traveled outside of the U.S. in the past 14 days will not be able to donate.

It is safe to donate blood during this time. COVID-19 is not a bloodborne disease. It’s a respiratory virus, and there has been no evidence that COVID-19 could be transmitted or contracted through a blood donation or a blood transfusion. There is currently a critical need for blood donations. By rolling up your sleeves, you can help to ensure an adequate blood supply for our patients during this challenging time.

Unlike our clinical spaces, our Holly Hall Donor room and community blood drives don’t see patients. Volunteer blood donors from the community visit these locations. Starting Monday, June 28, these locations are mask-recommended zones. Donors will have to pass entry screening. MD Anderson-issued face masks will be available if donors would like to wear one.

Due to space limitations, we’ll continue to restrict visitors in these spaces.

Learn more on our Blood Bank website.