ST. CLOUD, Fla. — A St. Cloud summer camp is shut down following a positive coronavirus test on a staff member.
What You Need To Know
- All kids and staff were sent home out of caution
- The staffer is not experiencing symptoms and is okay, St. Cloud official says
- RELATED: Over a Dozen Lake Students in Quarantine After Student Tests Positive for COVID-19
The city of St. Cloud sent all kids and staff home immediately out of an abundance of caution.
The camp restarted July 6, limited to 60 participants each week, after being closed for the month of June.
The City of St. Cloud sent all children and staff home after a summer camp staff member tested positive for #coronavirus.
— JSotoNews13 (@JSotoNews13) July 16, 2020
Camp restarted July 6th after being closed the month of June.
City is urging staff/children to check temperature twice a day for 10 days.@MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/6kMAB2IXWB
St. Cloud Parks and Recreation Director Stephanie Holtkamp said the employee does not have symptoms, and he's feeling okay.
In an email to the press, Holtkamp said camp staff and children will need to have their temperature checks every morning and evening for 10 days and monitor any possible symptoms.
Holtkamp is urging anyone who develops symptoms to be tested for coronavirus.
New safety precautions including additional cleaning and replacing A/C filters are on the horizon.
"We wanted to provide a service to our residents. Typically during the summer we take 300 kids. This year because of COVID and based on the social-distancing guidelines we were only to take back 60," Holtkamp said when asked about the camp reopening earlier this month amidst rising cases in the state, after being closed in June.
She said all employees were wearing masks, and masks were provided for kids but are optional.
CDC guidelines for camps include social distancing and not sharing objects, with outdoor activities prioritized. Holtkamp said they were following those practices.
"Every kid is issued their own bag of materials, and that's what they use all summer long," she said.
Holtkamp said camp employees and parents are in the loop every step of the way, with safety, during this pandemic, a priority.
"I encourage them if they have any questions or concerns, they're more than welcome to call me," Holtkamp said.
They're offering camp refunds for people who ask for them.
According to the city's website, the camp was full at the time and they were not keeping a waiting list.
All Specialty Camps are canceled for the summer already.
The American Camp Association guidelines during the pandemic include campers and staff wearing face coverings indoors when social distancing is not possible.
They recommend mainly outdoor activities. The ACA is urging camps to have frequent hand washing breaks and providing hand sanitizer.
City officials are hoping to restart camp on July 27, but they say that could change.
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