UPDATE: 3:50pm: As reported earlier, RWJBarnabas Health announced this afternoon that “in response to the steady increase in respiratory illness and COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state, they will implement masking protocols at all RWJBarnabas Health hospitals and facilities starting October 2, 2023.”

• 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.

1. 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:
2. Fever or chills
3. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
4. Muscle or body aches
5. New loss of taste or smell
6. Congestion or runny nose
7. Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
8. Cough or sore throat
9. Fatigue
10. Headache
11. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or another contagious respiratory illness, such as influenza or RSV, within the last 10 days
12. 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.

Original story below:

As the number of people infected with Covid continues to creep upwards, RWJBarnabas Health, the state’s largest healthcare system, is expected to reinstate a mask policy, sources tell TLS.

The mask policy, which is expected to take effect beginning on Monday October 2, will be more limited than the one announced by Hackensack Meridian Health and currently in place at Jersey Shore University Hospital.

According to sources familiar with the expected guidance, masks will only be required for all staff and visitors who are “caring for patients.”

New Jersey has seen a spike in COVID-related hospitalizations and 586 people are currently hospitalized statewide – well below the number seen during the worst of the pandemic but also at a six month high and trending upward.

When Governor Murphy announced the end of Public Health Emergency on March 4, 2022, there were just over 700 hospitalizations.