Important Information About Hospital Visitation Guidelines

Effective April 2, 2025

In response to the stabilization of key respiratory viral benchmarks across RWJBarnabas Health and the region, effective Wednesday, April 2, masking will be optional at all RWJBarnabas Health locations for staff, providers, patients, visitors, volunteers and vendors.

Please note:

• Masking may still be required for certain patients on standard infection prevention protocols, and/or on units responsible for the care of vulnerable patients at the determination of each site.
• Masks will continue to be available to staff, providers, patients, visitors, volunteers and vendors in our facilities.
• Masking will be requested of all patients who present with respiratory symptoms, if tolerated, as well as all staff members and providers caring for them.
• Should a patient request their caregiver wear a mask, staff and providers are expected to comply.

While we expect the trajectory of respiratory viral activity will continue to move in this positive direction, we will remain vigilant in monitoring benchmarks and may adjust policies accordingly to ensure the safety of our workforce and communities. This could potentially include requiring masks again should we see increases in contagious respiratory viruses and/or communicable diseases moving forward.

As always, we encourage you and our communities to take steps to reduce the spread of contagious illnesses by remaining up-to-date with appropriate vaccinations and boosters; choosing to wear a mask if you aren’t feeling well and/or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, influenza and/or another contagious illness; and observing isolation guidelines when appropriate.

Visit your local hospital’s page for more details:

• Children's Specialized Hospital
• Clara Maass Medical Center
• Community Medical Center
• Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
• Jersey City Medical Center
• Monmouth Medical Center and The Unterberg Children's Hospital
• Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus
• Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children's Hospital of New Jersey
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset
• RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center
• Trinitas Regional Medical Center

For a full list of RWJBH hospitals and facilities please visit our Locations page.

Visiting Outpatient and Medical Group Facilities

When visiting our outpatient or Medical Group facilities:

• Masking is optional in all RWJBarnabas Health facilities for patients, visitors, staff, volunteers and physicians.
• Masking is REQUIRED for all patients who present with respiratory symptoms, as well as all staff members and providers caring for them.
• Every patient has the right to request their provider(s) and/or staff wear a mask when treating them.

Upon checking in, please let a member of our team know if you are experiencing any of the following:

1. 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
   • Cough
   • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
   • Fatigue
   • Muscle or body aches
   • Headache
   • New loss of taste or smell
   • Sore throat
   • Congestion or runny nose
   • Nausea or vomiting
   • Diarrhea
2. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (or another contagious respiratory illness, such as influenza or RSV) within the last 10 days.
3. If you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 infection (or another contagious respiratory illness) in the last 10 days even if you are asymptomatic.

Thank you for your cooperation and your efforts to help keep our patients, staff and communities safe.