TOMS RIVER, NJ – Hackensack Meridian Health announced that starting December 1, visitors to patients at any of its facilities will be required to wear masks when visiting admitted patients.
The policy, reinstated at the start of respiratory virus season, aims to protect patients, staff, and visitors as flu, RSV, and COVID-19 cases rise across the region.
In a statement shared on social media, the health network said the measure is being taken “to ensure the safety and health of our patients, team members, and visitors.”
The rule applies to all Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals and care centers across New Jersey and will remain in effect through the winter months, when respiratory infections typically increase.
Precaution follows seasonal virus uptick
Health officials across the state have reported growing numbers of influenza and other respiratory illnesses, prompting many medical systems to review infection-control practices ahead of the holidays. Hackensack Meridian joins other regional health networks in tightening visitor policies to prevent the spread of illness within hospitals.
Patients and visitors are encouraged to check facility-specific guidance before visiting and to stay home if they are feeling sick or experiencing symptoms of a respiratory infection.