A massive coronavirus outbreak has been reported at an overnight camp in Georgia where hundreds of children and staff have tested positive for Covid-19. Masks were not required to be worn by campers.
What We Know:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an analysis Friday demonstrating children are vulnerable to the virus.
- The CDC did not state the name of the camp. The camp organized and had orientation for trainees and staff members. According to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality weekly report, on June 21, the staff was accompanied by 363 campers ages 6 to 19 and three senior staff for the first day of camp, totaling nearly 600 people present.
- On June 23, a teenage staffer felt sick and left after developing chills. The next day that staff member tested positive for coronavirus. Georgia Department Health Official started an investigation asked all campers and staff to quarantine and get tested, sending campers home the same day and shutting down the camp three days later. There were 344 tested for Covid-19 and 260 people tested positive, which was mostly children.
- Although the camp followed some specific safety protocols following the state’s executive order signed in May for camp to work, some measures were not followed, which includes proper face masks coverings and the opening of windows and adequate ventilation.
- The report states the campers slept in cabins and participated “in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, including daily strenuous singing and cheering”.
“Asymptomatic infection was common and potentially contributed to undetected transmission, as has been previously reported,” the CDC report stated. “This investigation adds to the body of evidence demonstrating that children of all ages are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and, contrary to early reports, might play an important role in transmission.”
The CDC stated during a press release that proper use of face masks, along with rigorous cleaning and social distancing, can help prevent the spread of the virus.
