With influenza and other respiratory illnesses still elevated, Reston Hospital Center is tightening its rules around face masks.
Patients with flu-like symptoms, including coughing, sneezing, a fever or a runny nose, are now “strongly encouraged to wear a mask if they are able” and to notify front desk staff when they arrive at a provider office, urgent care center or emergency department, HCA Virginia announced yesterday (Monday).
The updated guidance applies to HCA Virginia’s Reston hospital at 1850 Town Center Parkway as well as Dominion Hospital, a freestanding mental health facility in Seven Corners (2960 Sleepy Hollow Road). The health care provider also operates an emergency room in Tysons.
“This requirement applies even if the patient has received their annual flu vaccine,” HCA Virginia said in a press release.
By making masking a strong recommendation, rather than a requirement, HCA is taking a less stringent approach than some other medical providers. Inova has been mandating masks for everyone in “high-risk areas,” including emergency departments and urgent care centers, since Dec. 29, 2025.
After peaking in late December, flu cases appear to be declining in Fairfax County, and respiratory illness activity is rated low overall, according to the latest data from the county and state health departments. However, during the 2024-2025 season, a drop in January was followed by a second surge in early February.
As of the week that ended Jan. 10, about 19.2% of all emergency department visits in Virginia were for respiratory illnesses, per the Virginia Department of Health, which reported last week that a preschool-aged child had died from the flu — the state’s first pediatric death this season.
Typically spanning October through March, the flu season has been complicated this winter by a new strain known as H3N2 subclade K that differs from the one targeted by current vaccines, leaving people more susceptible.
In addition, earlier this month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, now led by longtime vaccine opponent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., rolled back longstanding recommendations that children be vaccinated against the flu and other diseases. Flu vaccinations among children were already down, and public health experts fear the revised guidance will lead to increased illnesses in future years.
More from HCA Virginia on handling the flu and its updated masking guidance:
Reston Hospital Center, StoneSprings Hospital and Dominion Hospital are sharing guidance with the public related to masking protocols in clinical settings and safety precautions people can take to help prevent spreading the flu. The recommendations include:
Updated Patient Masking Guidance
- Masking for respiratory symptoms. Patients with flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, fever, or a runny nose are strongly encouraged to wear a mask if they are able, and advised to notify the front desk upon arrival at provider offices, urgent care centers, and emergency departments. This requirement applies even if the patient has received their annual flu vaccine. Some hospitals are requiring masking for all patients and visitors in emergency departments.
- Seeking care while symptomatic. Patients who need medical care should not delay treatment due to symptoms. Masks will be provided as needed and care teams will guide patients on next steps upon arrival.
While vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce the risk of severe illness from the flu, it is not 100 percent effective. Individuals who are vaccinated can still contract and spread the virus. Masking when symptoms are present provides an additional layer of protection.
Other ways people in the community can help stop the spread of the flu include:
- frequent handwashing,
- staying home when sick,
- covering coughs and sneezes,
- and getting an annual flu vaccine.
Common flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, chills, fatigue, and, in some cases, vomiting or diarrhea. If symptoms are not serious or life threatening, patients are encouraged to visit a primary care doctor or urgent care facility for treatment of flu and respiratory virus symptoms. Taking this approach can prevent unnecessary emergency room visits, which preserves capacity for patients with serious illness or injury. Patients and visitors experiencing flu-like symptoms are also encouraged to consider postponing non-essential visits to hospitalized loved ones when possible. Individuals infected with the flu can spread the virus before symptoms are fully apparent, making awareness and early precautions critical.
