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

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — New Jersey's second largest hospital network brought back a mask mandate this week:

Effective immediately, Hackensack Meridian Health is requiring all patients, visitors and staff wear masks at four of its hospitals:

• 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

Hackensack Meridian announced the return of their mask policy in this statement they published to their website Tuesday. They added Ocean University Medical Center to the list Wednesday.

However, masking remains optional at all other Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals across the state. Hackensack Meridian said it's because those four hospitals have seen the largest increase in COVID-19 cases:

"This decision was made due to an increase in COVID-19 prevalence in these hospitals, facilities and communities," said Hackensack Meridian spokeswoman Jessica Cohen Nussman. "The health and safety of our team members and patients has always been and continues to be our number one priority. Currently, masking is strongly encouraged, but not required at our other hospitals and facilities. We continue to closely monitor COVID-19 activity in our communities and other hospitals."

RWJ/Barnabas Health is New Jersey's largest hospital system.

As of Wednesday, they have not brought back a mask mandate. RWJ/Barnabas Health said masks remain optional at all of their hospitals.

NJ 101.5 reports that Shore Medical Center in Somers Point and Cape Regional Medical Center in Cape May County brought back mask mandates earlier this September. They are not part of the Hackensack Meridian network.

So far, that makes six hospitals in New Jersey that now brought back mask mandates this September. Nationwide, COVID-19 cases steadily rise, but remain low.