Masks Now Required At All RWJBarnabas Health Hospitals Statewide

Effective Monday, masks are now required for all patients, staff and visitors at all RWJBarnabas Health hospitals​ across the state.

Oct 2, 2023 11:38 am EDT | Updated Oct 2, 2023 11:42 am EDT

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Effective Monday, Oct. 2 masks are now required for all patients, staff and visitors at all RWJBarnabas Health hospitals across the state.

This is in response to not just COVID-19 hospitalizations — which are slowly rising but still remain low, according to the CDC — but “the steady increase in respiratory illness,” said the hospital system.

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RWJBarnabas Health is the largest hospital system in New Jersey, and they own 15 hospitals across New Jersey.

RWJBarnabas publicly announced a re-introduction of the mask mandate Friday, but said it takes effect Monday.

Hackensack Meridian Health NJ’s second largest hospital chain, brought back the mask mandate first: They said effective Sept. 27 masks are now required, but only at four hospitals in their network that are seeing “an increase in COVID-19 prevalence:”

• Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank
• Ocean University Medical Center in Brick
• Old Bridge Medical Center and Carrier Clinic (behavioral health)
• Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin

Currently, masking remains optional at all other Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals across the state.

Last week: Mask Mandate Returns To Old Bridge Medical Center, 3 More Hospitals