Health & Fitness

Southern Ocean Medical Restricts Visitors During NJ Flu Breakout

Southern Ocean Medical Center will temporarily only allow visitors 12 and older.

Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin will temporarily only allow visitors 12 and older amid the flu breakout in New Jersey.
Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin will temporarily only allow visitors 12 and older amid the flu breakout in New Jersey. (Google Earth)

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Southern Ocean Medical Center will temporarily restrict visitors amid New Jersey's flu breakout. The hospital will temporarily only allow visitors 12 and older.

Anyone with a fever or cough is asked not to visit. The restrictions apply to visitors only, not patients.

Nearly 2,000 New Jerseyans have fallen ill with the flu, and two children have died, according to state officials. Read more: Hospital Restrictions In NJ Flu Outbreak: Nearly 2K Sick, 2 Dead

Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The following hospitals have imposed restrictions during the flu breakout: Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Mountainside Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, Palisades Medical Center, Pascack Valley Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy and Old Bridge and Southern Ocean Medical Center, said Nancy A. Radwin, a spokesperson for the operators of Hackensack Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health.

Restrictions will remain until the New Jersey Department of Health says influenza activity is low or flu season is over.

Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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