Ontario camps using various strategies to prevent spread of COVID-19
For many Canadian children, summer camp is an annual ritual, as well as a much-appreciated break for parents.
“Last year when they announced there was going to be no camp, she cried almost every day the whole summer," mother Lauren Shulman said of her daughter.
Her two children - Addison, age 13, and Harrison, age 9, were delighted to be able to attend Camp Walden this year. They were eager to observe all recommended protocols, even before arriving at camp.
Two weeks before camp opened on July 2, the family was asked to isolate themselves as much as possible. They did PCR tests for COVID-19 just before coming up to the camp. And upon arrival, they were tested once again.
While Addison has had her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, Harrison is too young to get vaccinated.
“To be honest, I didn’t have any worries” says Shulman when asked whether she was concerned about her children getting together with other children. She pointed to the mild illnesses that the vast majority of children who got COVID-19 experienced and she believes the mental health benefits of overnight camp outweigh the risks.
Chief of Pediatrics at Lakeridge Health, Dr. Joan Abohweyere, agrees and said that camp provides the vital social interactions that children need to practice as they grow.
But she also says all children age 12-17 should be aiming to get their vaccinations now, especially while there is plenty of supply.
She says that will help not only at camp, but also for the start of in-person classes in the fall.
At the same time, Abohweyere says vaccines are not a silver bullet. Proper mask use, hand hygiene and maintaining consistent groupings for campers are also important strategies.
“At camp, kids are of different ages and they do different activities, so cohorting children is another way of limiting the spread (of illness)," Abohweyere said.
Shulman says her son actually keeps his mask on outside, despite being allowed to remove it for outdoor activities.
The Ontario Camps Association (OCA), which has about 400 members including day and overnight camps, has been working since last fall to established good safety protocols.
Chair Jack Goodman says camps began opening just after July 1.
Campers and staff were asked to provide proof of negative COVID-19 test results before coming to camp, and we’re tested again on arrival.
“We sort of encircled our bubbles," Goodman said. “We prevented non-essential visitors from coming in. Staff are staying in camp on their days off.”
No overnight camps with the OCA has had any COVID-19 cases so far. Two cases have been reported at a day camp that is not part of the OCA.
And if a suspected case of COVID-19 should arise, most camps have created double infirmaries - one for regular scrapes and bruises, and one for potential COVID-19 cases.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials
Russia plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine and Moscow warned that tensions with the West are deepening.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army ordered some 100,000 Palestinians on Monday to begin evacuating from the southern city of Rafah, signaling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent and further complicating efforts to broker a cease-fire in Gaza.