Flu and other respiratory viruses are on the rise in New York and New Jersey, prompting a number of hospitals to bring back their mask mandate, data shows.
According to the New York State Department of Health, as of last Tuesday, the flu was declared “prevalent.”
Additionally, the state reports 13 respiratory outbreaks in hospitals and 15 respiratory outbreaks in nursing homes, bringing the seasonal total to date to 220 outbreaks of viral respiratory illnesses.
With the week ending Nov. 29, the state’s Health Department confirmed a total of 14,506 flu cases — an 80% increase from the previous week — bringing the season-to-date total to 32,769 with 1,743 hospitalizations.
For the same week ending Nov. 29, the health department also confirmed a total of 1,948 COVID cases, a slight decrease from the previous week. Season-to-date, a total of 23,267 COVID-19 cases have been reported.
When it comes to respiratory syncytial virus (or RSV), another respiratory virus, cases were also up. For the week ending Nov. 29, 2,200 cases were reported, an increase of 17% from the previous week, bringing the total number of cases to 9,215 for the season, with 541 total hospitalizations.
To date, according to the state’s Health Department, no flu -, RSV- or COVID-associated pediatric deaths have been reported this season.
Because of the high numbers of respiratory virus cases throughout the state, personnel not vaccinated against the flu at “health care and residential facilities and agencies” must wear masks.
The rise of respiratory viruses is not limited to New York. Neighboring New Jersey has seen a spike in flu cases this year. So far, through the end of November, New Jersey has reported 2,032 flu cases, compared to the 542 reported for the same time last year, and the 1,086 for the same time in 2023.
The increase in cases has also prompted various hospital networks to implement mask mandates, including Hackensack Meridian Health, which in an Instagram post published last week announced the measure.
“Respiratory virus season is here,” Hackensack Meridian Health, which operates 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care centers, said in a post. “To ensure the safety and health of our patients, team members and visitors, you will be asked to wear a mask when visiting an admitted patient at our facilities, effective December 1, 2025.”
Meanwhile, RWJ Barnabas Health, which includes 14 hospitals throughout the state, is also instituting mask mandates where employees, patients leaving their rooms and visitors are required to mask up.
“In response to an increase in key viral benchmarks across RWJBarnabas Health and the region, and in support of the total well-being of our communities, patients and colleagues, RWJBarnabas Health has implemented the following masking protocols at all system locations, effective Monday, December 1,” the health network said in a press release.
“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,” the press release went on to say.
The flu is a “contagious respiratory illness” that can cause mild to severe symptoms, which can lead to death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms are often sudden, according to the CDC, with people experiencing:
- “fever* or feeling feverish/chills (although one should note that not everyone with the flu will have a fever)
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- muscle or body aches
- headaches
- fatigue (tiredness)
- some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.”
According to the CDC, the best way to prevent the seasonal flu is to reduce the risk of potential serious complications by getting the flu shot every year.
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