JFK, Raritan Bay Hospitals Report Increase In COVID Patients

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — The number of people hospitalized with COVID has spiked across nearly all Middlesex County hospitals, including at the local hospitals that serve Woodbridge: JFK Medical Center in Edison and Raritan Bay in Old Bridge and Perth Amboy.

COVID hospitalizations are also up at RWJBarnabas Health and Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick.

"We are experiencing COVID-19 volumes not seen since early June. These recent numbers lead us to believe we are experiencing our second wave," said M. Todd Way, the president of what Hackensack Meridian calls its "Central Market," which includes JFK, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel and both Raritan Bay locations.

As of Thursday, Nov. 12, there are a total of 338 COVID patients admitted across all Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals statewide.

RWJBarnabas, which operates Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, similarly called it "a steady increase."

"At this time, our hospitals in the northern region, including those in Essex County, are seeing the greater increase in COVID patient volume," said Dr. Christopher Freer, who runs the emergency medicine department at RWJBarnabas.

At Saint Peter's, the Catholic hospital hit a milestone on Sept. 10: Zero admitted patients with COVID-19, said spokeswoman Michelle Lazzarotti.

But it was a short-lived victory. By Oct. 11, Saint Peter's had 15 COVID patients admitted, one of whom was on a ventilator. This week, it's up to 23 patients, with one on a ventilator.

Dr. Freer said a second wave this fall and winter "had been predicted" and all RWJBarnabas hospitals have been "stockpiling PPE and medications." They've also contracted to hire more nurses this winter.

All the Middlesex County hospitals polled by Patch say they are confident they have enough PPE to treat patients and get through the winter.

Hackensack Meridian hospitals are also participating in several vaccine trials, including the Moderna and J&J trials, said Way. Hackensack Meridian is also providing support to Pfizer, which has developed a vaccine that is 90 percent effective.

"At Hackensack Meridian Health, our physicians and scientists are developing potential breakthroughs including conducting clinical trials on new therapies such as convalescent plasma therapy and Regeneron, an antibody treatment given to President Trump and former Governor Chris Christie," said Way.

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