Warren County, NJ – Warren County Freeholder James R. Kern III praised the first group of municipalities that approved a resolution opposing St. Luke’s University Health Network and Lehigh Valley Health Network ban on New Jersey maternity partners. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Warren County Freeholder Board on April 8th. Currently these Pennsylvania facilities allow one designated coach or partner per patient, per stay on labor and delivery units. Those visitors will be pre- screened for COVID-19. However in accordance with the recent CDC Domestic Travel Advisory, visitors from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will not be allowed into the Labor and Delivery units.

Warren County has no maternity wards therefore leaving expectant parents no choice but to use these medical facilities located outside of the County.

“I continue to be contacted daily by expecting Warren County families who are impacted by this discriminatory policy. I urge these hospitals to look at the data. Warren County’s COVID-19 numbers are less than both Northampton and Lehigh Valley counties. This blanket policy continues to defy logic”. said Freeholder James R. Kern III

The first group of Warren County municipalities to pass the resolution included Alpha Borough, Greenwich Township, Hope Township and Blairstown.

“While I understand the rationale behind the restrictions enacted by St Luke’s and Lehigh Valley, you must also consider that Warren County is an integral part of the greater Lehigh Valley. Neither of Warren County’s two hospitals offer maternity services, requiring that our residents use hospitals in
Northampton and Monroe Counties. On top of it, Warren County’s COVID-19 infection rate is much lower than either Pennsylvania county. Why would you penalize a father or family member from being there for the birth of a child based on where they live? I participated as a birthing coach for all of children, including a set of twins. My wife agrees that having me there gave her the emotional support to make the birth of our children so much easier. I can’t image a father or another family member missing out on this miracle. It creates a much stronger bond with the child.” – Blairstown Mayor Steve Lance