What virus prevention measures are camps taking and what should parents look for?

Jul. 7--RALEIGH -- After being closed for most of June, city of Raleigh summer day camps have been open since June 26.

On Sunday night, a group of 24 parents were notified by an email from the city that someone at the Millbrook Exchange Park youth day camp had tested positive for COVID-19.

The parents were told not to bring their child back to camp until they'd been isolated for 14 days since the time of the exposure with no symptoms, according to the letter to families.

"Your child had exposure to the individual who tested positive and it is possible that your child could have contracted the virus," the email to parents said, The News & Observer previously reported. An email to the Raleigh City Council identified the person as a part-time counselor.

Tom Rosenberg, president and CEO of the American Camp Association, said in an interview with the N&O that camp staffers and campers should all be doing their best to minimize their chance of contracting the virus when they're not at camp, so camps can remain open.

He said parents should be even more keen this year to know exactly how camps are being run and what safety measures are being taken.

Wellness checks, small groups

The American Camp Association is a group of camp professionals who work to ensure the quality of camp programs across the U.S. Recently, it worked with the YMCA of the USA and an environmental health consulting firm to provide a field guide for how camps should handle COVID-19 precautions.

"The opportunity to have day camp this summer is a gift," Rosenberg said. "And it requires everyone, when they're not at camp, to be very mindful of communicable disease prevention protocols."

Julia Milstead, spokesperson for the city of Raleigh, told The N&O there are no set rules for how camp staff members are supposed to minimize their chances of contracting the virus outside of camp.

At Raleigh city summer day camps, campers are required to have a mask and are told to avoid touching each other. The YMCA of the Triangle lists many similar safety measures on its website for summer camps, though campers under the age of 11 aren't required to wear face masks when they can't social distance.

Raleigh campers are also placed into smaller groups, called "households," upon arrival. The CDC calls this type of camp setting, "Low Risk."

No more than two of these groups are allowed to have contact throughout the duration of the camp.

Rosenberg said placing children into smaller groups is helpful for virus spread prevention in a number of ways -- it keeps physical contact to a limited number of people and allows for easier contact tracing if someone does test positive, while still letting campers socialize.

Raleigh camps have increased cleaning of group and common spaces, maintain 6-foot social distancing whenever possible, and conduct wellness checks when entering the camp. Raleigh camps are not administering any coronavirus testing for camp staff.

The wellness screening happens every day when campers and staff come in and is a series of three questions for campers, about symptoms and any possible exposures, plus a temperature check. Staff also have to answer a question about any travel they've taken, Milstead told The N&O in an email.

She wrote that anyone who answers "yes" to any of the symptom or exposure questions or who does not clear the temperature check is not allowed to stay.

Raleigh camp guidelines included many of prevention steps that the American Camp Association advises in its Field Guide and the CDC suggestions for summer and youth camps.

"The idea is that there are these layers of protection," Rosenberg said. "Regular health screenings and daily monitoring are one of the layers, to isolate folks and send them home when they show any symptoms."

"There are so many kids and staff coming and going that it's still difficult to test everyone."

Camp plans parents should look for

This summer, more than ever, parents should ask camp directors about their virus spread prevention plans, Rosenburg said.

He said parents should be looking for camp plans that include:

-- Daily health screenings and regular monitoring of campers and staff.

-- Putting campers and staff in smaller activity groups.

-- Increased cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces.

-- Reminding kids and staff to wash hands regularly.

-- Adjusted programs to encourage distance and have fun.

Rosenberg added that, as parents slowly return to work spaces across the U.S., it's important that kids get summer learning and camp activities.

"Camp is a chance to breathe, through a mask, and socialize through a mask," he said.

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