Flu Outbreak: These NJ Hospitals Won't Let Kids Visit

As the flu epidemic rages on in New Jersey and nationwide, many hospitals across the state have gotten tougher about who comes to visit.

Some hospitals are even screening every visitor — regardless of age — for cold or flu symptoms before they even walk in the door.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, one of New Jersey's most prominent hospital chains, is only allowing siblings, grandchildren and children of hospital patients to visit. No other children under 16 will be allowed in. This is the new policy this flu season implemented at all their hospitals.

CentraState Medical Center in Freehold announced Thursday they will not let any visitors under age 14 into the hospital. At Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, kids 12 and under are not allowed into the hospital. Newark Beth Israel is not allowing kids under 15, and Holy Name in Teaneck is not allowing kids under 18.

Children are the most common carriers of cold and flu virus. Viruses can spread so quickly because often children are contagious before they begin showing signs of illness.

"Allowing this age group to visit could potentially be putting patients, visitors and children at risk," said Southern Ocean Medical Center in a statement.

Other hospitals are taking even more creative measures: Starting this past Wednesday, Feb. 7, Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington began screening all patients, regardless of age, for cold and flu symptoms right at the door.

Flu screenings take place at the hospital's main entrance from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and all visitors and outpatients coming to the hospital must be screened for flu-like symptoms. That means even patients coming in for something like a blood pressure test must be screened.

If visitors show symptoms, they will be turned away. Outpatients will be allowed in, but must wear a mask while on hospital grounds.

All healthy individuals will be given a special sticker to wear while in the hospital to identify he/she has been screened.

“We recognize this screening may cause our visitors and outpatients some inconvenience, but this process is critical," said Lisa Rasimowicz, the Director of Infection Prevention at Hunterdon Medical Center. "Patients who are admitted to the hospital are already sick and their immune system can be weak, making it more difficult to fight off infections like the flu."

After all, the best way to stay safe this flu season is to get a flu shot and avoid people who are sick.

What are the rules at the hospital near you?

Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston: "We have on average 15-20 people daily who are in the hospital as a result of the flu," a spokesperson said. "No children under 18 are allowed to visit the NICU or postpartum area." All other areas of the hospital are unrestricted.

Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck: No visitors under 18.

Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune: No visitors 12 and under.

Ocean Medical Center, Brick: No visitors 12 and under.

Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (formerly known as Kimball Medical Center): Banning anyone under 18.

All Hackensack Meridian hospitals: No visitors 12 and under. "Special visits such as preparing for a death, birth of a new baby, and other circumstances will be looked at on a case-by-case basis and are up to the discretion of the nurse manager," said Cristina Cicogna, M.D., Hospital Epidemiologist at HUMC main campus in Hackensack.

Englewood Hospital and Medical Center: Sick visitors are not permitted at all. Individuals with a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea should stay home and refrain from visiting.

Visitors under 18 years old are not permitted in: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Adult Intensive Care Units (MSICU and CVICU), Labor/Delivery and Mother/Baby and Pediatrics

For the remainder of the hospital, visitors under 14 years old are not permitted to visit.

RWJUH Somerset and New Brunswick: Allows siblings, children and grandchildren of any age to visit. All others under 16 are restricted at this time.

Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth: No visitors under 12 anywhere in the hospital.

Bayshore Medical Center, Holmdel: No restrictions in place.

JFK Medical Center in Edison: Minors under 18 are not allowed in during flu season. This is not unique to the 2018 flu season; it is their policy every cold and flu season.

Morristown Medical Center (and all Atlantic Health hospitals in New Jersey): Visitors under age 16 are prohibited from visiting the maternity, NICU, PICU and pediatric units. All other areas of the hospital are unrestricted.

Shore Medical Center, Galloway/Somers Point: No visitors 14 and under.

CentraState Medical Center, Freehold: No visitors 14 and under.

Southern Ocean Medical Center, Manahawkin: No visitors 12 and under.

AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City: Since Jan. 17, they have not let visitors 14 and under in the door.

Virtua, Voorhees: Virtua has restricted visitation for its NICU and nursery to only parents and grandparents who are without signs of illness.

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center: Has seen an approximately 35% increase in flu cases as compared to last year. They're calling the flu season moderately severe and have limited visitors to people 15 years of age or older, and only allow two visitors at the bedside at a time.

Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch: No restrictions, but asking sick visitors to stay home

Community Medical Center in Toms River is urging its visitors to be prudent and stay away from the hospital if they are ill.

Shutterstock image