Important Information About Hospital Visitation Guidelines
Effective December 1, 2025
In response to an increase in key viral benchmarks across RWJBarnabas Health and the region, and in support of the total wellbeing of our communities, patients and colleagues, RWJBarnabas Health has implemented the following masking protocols at all system locations, effective Monday, December 1.
Inpatient Care Locations:
- Physicians, providers and staff – Face masks must be worn when providing direct care to patients. All staff can also choose to wear a mask at any time.
- Patients – 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.
- Visitors, volunteers and vendors – Face masks must be worn at all times in the presence of patients when at an RWJBarnabas Health facility.
- Every patient has the right to request physicians(s), provider(s) and/or staff wear a mask when treating them. If a request is made, physicians(s), provider(s) and/or staff are required to comply.
Outpatient and Medical Group Care Locations:
- Masking will be required for all patients who present with respiratory symptoms, as well as all staff members and providers caring for them.
- Masking is strongly encouraged for all physicians, providers, staff, patients, visitors and vendors at all times when in the presence of patients.
- Outpatient and Medical Group sites can make the decision to require universal masking at their location if they determine this is in the best interest of the patient population they serve, such as a location primarily serving immunocompromised patients.
- Every patient has the right to request physicians(s), provider(s) and/or staff wear a mask when treating them. If a request is made, physicians(s), provider(s) and/or staff are required to comply.
We will remain vigilant in monitoring benchmarks and may adjust policies accordingly to ensure the safety of our workforce and communities.
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.
