CDC Updates COVID-19 Guidelines for Summer Camps

TUESDAY, June 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Campers and staff who are fully vaccinated will not need to wear masks at summer camps, unless it is required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial regulations or if it is a business or workplace policy, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says in new COVID-19 guidelines for camps.

The agency does suggest that everyone 12 years and older get vaccinated for COVID-19 and for camps to develop education materials and promote vaccination among campers and staff, CNN reported. Fully vaccinated people at camps also do not need to undergo routine testing, the CDC said, and they do not need to be tested even if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, unless they have symptoms of the illness.

The agency also says that physical distancing is not necessary for fully vaccinated people but should be part of multiple prevention strategies in camps with unvaccinated campers or staff, CNN reported. If a camp does have a COVID-19 outbreak, it should contact state or local public health officials and work with them to isolate people with symptoms, make sure anyone with symptoms can get tested, and quarantine any unvaccinated close contacts of anyone who has symptoms, the CDC says.

Parents of children in day camps should monitor their youngsters for COVID-19 symptoms and keep them home if they are sick, and overnight camps should conduct daily symptom checks.

CNN Article

More Information