RWJBarnabas Health Updates Masking Guidelines Across All Hospitals and Facilities
RWJBarnabas Health Updates Masking Guidelines Across All Hospitals and Facilities
West Orange, NJ, October 24, 2023 – In response to the steady increase in respiratory illness and COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state, RWJBarnabas Health announces it will implement masking protocols at all RWJBarnabas Health hospitals and facilities starting October 2, 2023.
To reduce the risk of infection for caregivers, patients and staff, the following masking guidelines must be followed:
- Inpatients – All inpatients, who are able to, will be required to wear a face mask when leaving their room and can also choose to wear a mask at any time.
- Outpatients – Face masks must be worn at all times when at an RWJBarnabas Health facility.
- Staff – Face masks must be worn when providing direct care to patients at all RWJBarnabas Health locations. All staff can also choose to wear a mask at any time.
- Visitors, volunteers, and vendors – Face masks must be worn at all times when in the presence of patients at all RWJBarnabas Health facilities.
Visitors should defer their visitation to another day if:
- You have a fever or have felt feverish in the last 24 hours or are experiencing COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms. Possible symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Fever or chills
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Muscle or body aches
- New loss of taste or smell
- Congestion or runny nose
- Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
- Cough or sore throat
- Fatigue
- Headache
- If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or another contagious respiratory illness, such as influenza or RSV, within the last 10 days
- If you have had contact with someone with a COVID-19 infection, or another contagious respiratory illness, in the last 10 days and cannot wear a mask.
In addition to wearing a mask and performing a COVID-19 risk assessment prior to visiting, all visitors must clean their hands before and after their visit and practice proper social distancing while in an RWJBarnabas Health facility.
While not mandatory, RWJBarnabas Health encourages all staff and patients six months or older to get the COVID-19 vaccine, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends. Evidence has proven that COVID-19 vaccination is the most effective way to protect ourselves from severe disease and hospitalization. It also reduces the chance you will pass the virus to someone else and lessens the risk of long COVID-19 in both adult and pediatric patients.
For updates on visitation policies and guidelines visit: https://www.rwjbh.org/
ABOUT RWJBARNABAS HEALTH
RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering eight counties with five million people. The system includes twelve acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, three acute care children’s hospitals, Children’s Specialized Hospital with a network of outpatient pediatric rehabilitation centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers – with more than 38,000 employees and 9,000 physicians– and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBarnabas Health launched an affiliation with Rutgers University to create New Jersey’s largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers’ education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.
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