2 South Jersey Hospitals Reinstate Mask Policies

SOUTH JERSEY — Two South Jersey hospitals are reinstating mask policies as COVID-19 cases rise in the region.

Shore Medical Center in Somers Point and Cape Regional Medical Center in Cape May Court House recently updated their policies. Shore Medical Center asks that staff and visitors wear masks, while Cape Regional Medical Center ask that patients mask up, too.

Both hospitals said that rising COVID-19 cases are the reason for the policy change.

“This is all to protect our patients, visitors, and staff from illness,” a spokesperson from Cape Regional Medical Center told NJ Advance Media.

Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 remain low statewide, according to New Jersey Department of Health data.

But data also shows that coronavirus cases have been increasing over the past few months. More than 6,000 positive cases have been reported since the beginning of September, according to the Department of Health.

The state recommends that anyone who has not gotten a COVID-19 vaccine in the past two months get an updated one to prepare for fall and winter. You can find locations at vaccines.gov.