Exclusion of SARS-COV-2 From Two Maine Overnight Camps July-August 2020. (25th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kowalsky, Rachel H.; Fine, Susan; Eisenberg, Matthew A.
• Is Part Of: Disaster medicine and public health preparedness. Volume 16:Number 5(2022)
• Page Start: 1792
• Page End: 1794
• Publication Date: 2022-10-25
• Subjects: summer camp -- nonpharmaceutical intervention -- COVID-19; Disaster medicine -- Periodicals; Emergency management -- Planning -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 363.34
• DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2021.86
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1935-7893

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Summer camp can positively affect self-esteem and social skills. Most United States summer camps did not open during 2020 because of concerns about severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). Our objective is to describe exclusion strategies successfully used by 2 summer camps in Maine. Methods: Before camp arrival, all attendees were asked to quarantine at home for 14 d and perform a daily symptom checklist. Salivary specimens were submitted by mail for SARS-COV-2 PCR testing 4 d before arrival, and again 4 d after arrival. At camp, multiple layers of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were used. Results: A total of 717 (96.7%) prospective attendees underwent remotely supervised saliva collection; 4 were positive and did not come to camp. Among the 20 who did not submit a sample, 3 did not come to camp; the other 17 underwent screening and a rapid antigen test for SARS-COV-2 immediately upon arrival and before reporting to communal living spaces; all were negative. All campers and staff were re-tested by salivary polymerase chain reaction 4 d after arrival, and all were negative. Conclusions: We demonstrate that it is possible to safely operate overnight camps during a pandemic, thus supporting the continued physical and socioemotional growth of children, using multiple layers of NPIs.