NJ mask mandates at RWJBarnabas Health hospitals, but not for COVID
Hospitals owned by giant RWJBarnabas Health, including those in Monmouth and Ocean counties, are now requiring that visitors wear a mask, a response to a statewide surge in respiratory infections.
Flu and RSV, both respiratory infections, are on the rise, according to a report by the state Department of Health. COVID-19 activity, which is often associated with mask mandates, is low, but health officials are seeing “slight increases” in emergency room visits and hospital admissions associated with coronavirus.
“We’re seeing mostly RSV and flu,” said Dr. Andy Anderson, executive vice president and chief medical and quality officer for RWJBarnabas Health, adding that COVID is “not accelerating quite as quickly yet.”
“This happens every year … where there’s RSV, flu, COVID,” Anderson said. “It’s just a matter of time and we’re trying to get ahead of it so we can protect people and prevent the spread early on rather than waiting until we’re in the thick of it when everyone’s sick.”
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RWJBarnabas Health’s hospitals, including Monmouth Medical Center and the Unterberg Children’s Hospital in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood and Community Medical Center in Toms River require visitors to wear a face mask, maintain a physical distance and clean their hands before and after their visits.
In a statement, Hackensack Meridian Health said masks are currently optional, but they continue to monitor public health trends closely. Hackensack owns Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel; Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank; Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune; Ocean University Medical Center in Brick; and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Stafford.
“While masks are currently optional within our hospitals and care facilities, they are readily available for anyone who needs or prefers them at all locations,” the statement said. “We continue to monitor public health trends closely and may adjust our policies as needed to safeguard the well-being of our communities.”
Masking is optional for visitors at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township. “Visitors who exhibit respiratory symptoms are requested to wear a mask,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.
If you’re not feeling well, you should put off your visit to a patient at the hospital to another time, Anderson said. “You should really try to stay out of the hospital.” he said. “For the most part, we try to avoid exposing others to individuals who are sick.”
Just over a year ago, several hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties brought back temporary mask mandates during a rise in COVID cases.
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How prevalent are respiratory infections now?
According to a state health department report for the week ending Dec. 7, influenza activity remains low but is increasing.
“There continues to be increases in influenza associated with emergency department visits and influenza-like illness among outpatient provider visits,” the report states.
RSV is “high,” the report states. “There continues to be increases in percent positivity, emergency department visits with a RSV diagnosis and hospital admissions, particularly among children zero to 4 years of age.”
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Typically, infection rates improve around March or April, but RWJBarnabas will continue to monitor the state’s data. “Once the infection rates start to go down again, then we’ll stop with our masking policy,” Anderson said.
David P. Willis: [email protected]
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