2022 COVID Plan

posted by on Jun 2, 2022

While COVID-19 continues to exist in our communities, our goals are to have a safe and normal summer. In consultation with our medical committee and with summer camp guidance from the CDC, we have developed a set of plans designed to keep COVID out of camp and to mitigate it’s effects if there are cases in camp. Of course, as we all know, there are simply no guarantees. Fortunately our entire community will be up-to-date with their vaccinations thus greatly lowering the risks of severe illness from COVID.

We know the plan below is long and involves many steps. However, in order to achieve our goals, we need everyone (parents, campers, and staff) to carefully read, understand, and follow the plan below. If you have any questions, please be in touch. **

With your help, we can make this summer as safe and normal as possible for our community.

The 2022 Tel Yehudah COVID-19 Plan

Vaccinations

All campers, staff and visitors must be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. For anyone 12 years of age and older, this includes two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and one booster of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least 5 months after the final dose of the primary series. Please make sure to submit your vaccination record in your MyTelYehudah account.

Prior to Camp

  • Ten days before the start of camp:We strongly encourage each camper to go get a PCR test 10 days before camp. This way, if your child tests positive, they will be able to quarantine and arrive with everyone else on the opening day of camp. If you get a positive result, notify us and send us documentation. Regardless of the test results, we ask that you avoid COVID risks and consider wearing a mask in public, avoiding large crowds, and not eating indoors at restaurants for at least a week prior to camp.
  • Seventy-Two hours before the start of camp:We require a PCR test administered within 72 hours of the start of campResults must be uploaded to MyTelYehudah before traveling to camp. If your child has had COVID within three months of the start of camp, they do not need to take a PCR test. Please upload proof that they had COVID. This could be PCR test results or a letter from your doctor. A picture of a home administered rapid antigen test will not be accepted for this purpose.
  • Within 24 hours of arriving at camp: Administer a rapid antigen test to your child to ensure they are not traveling to camp with COVIDand upload to https://w1s51ch4.paperform.co. If your child tests positive, please contact our office and do not send them to camp.

Opening Day

All campers will be given a rapid antigen test upon arrival at Camp Tel Yehudah by Diligent Testing. To receive that test, you must register with Diligent Testing by June 8th by using this link: https://patientportal.advancedmd.com/140599/onlineintake (See attached instructions.) Also, you must complete the COVID Testing Consent Form now available in your MyTelYehudah account. Campers will not be permitted to stay in camp without complete registration in advance of arrival.

*Please note that these rapid antigen tests will be charged to your health insurance. If your insurance does not cover testing, you will be charged no more than $30 for the test.

If travelling by car: Campers will be tested as soon as they arrive at camp and before your car is unpacked. If campers test positive, they will need to return home and can return after five days.

If traveling by plane/bus/train: Campers should be masked while traveling by plane/train. Once they get to Newark Airport, they will be required to be masked until they arrive at camp and are tested. If campers test positive upon arrival at camp, they will be isolated until they can be picked up. If possible, they should be picked up within 24 hours. If it is not possible to pick up your camper, they will remain in our isolation bunk (see below).

During Camp

  • Activities will be held outdoors as much as possible. Meals will be served indoors.
  • Masks are optional while at camp and certainly welcome. There may be times when we do ask the campers to wear a mask, please be sure to send several well-fitting KN95 masks or similar with your child.
  • Out-of-camp trips will take place during Bloc 2 (July 11-14). Campers will be required to wear masks while indoors on these trips except when sleeping or eating.
  • Campers who present with mild cold like symptoms: mild sore throat, runny nose, headache, mild cough, or a lost voice, will not be tested for COVID. Campers with more severe symptoms than the aforementioned ones, will be given a rapid antigen test.
  • Staff will be allowed to leave camp on days or time off but will be required to wear masks while indoors and to stay away from crowded indoor venues.
  • All campers will be seen by the Health Center staff within 48 hours of their departure. Campers with COVID-like symptoms will be given a rapid antigen test.

Campers who Test Positive for COVID

  • If a camper tests positive on opening day or anytime during the session:
  • They will be moved to an isolation room or bunk
  • They will need to be picked up within 24 hours of testing positive. They may return to camp after five days if they’re symptom free. Upon their return, they can participate in activities but must remain masked indoors and outdoors for the next five days. Therefore, they will need to sleep in an isolation bunk and take meals outside. There will be supervision of campers in the isolation bunks.
  • If the camper does not live within driving distance to camp and there are no family members or friends who can pick them up, the camper will remain in the COVID isolation bunk for 10 days. During the first five days they will need to be in or on the porch of the bunk the entire time. After five days they can participate in regular camp activities but must remain masked indoors and outdoors. Therefore, they will need to continue to sleep in the isolation bunk. There will be supervision of campers in the isolation bunks.
  • Campers who do test positive will not be able to participate in trips during the 10-day period after testing positive for COVID.
  • If a camper tests positive in the last 10 days of Bloc 3, arrangements will need to be made to pick up the camper regardless of where they live. We are unable to keep any campers at camp beyond August 3rd.


**We recognize that there will differences of opinions about how best to manage COVID. However, these plans have been approved by our medical committee and are not subject to change or interpretation.