Hamilton College

At a Georgia summer camp in June, there was a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak affecting 44% of the staff and attendees. 258 trainees and staff members arrived on June 17th, and 366 campers and senior staff member arrived on June 21st. The camp followed all overnight camp policies from the Georgia Executive Order (including a negative SARS-CoV-2 test within 12 days of arrival) and the majority of measures from CDC’s Suggestions for Youth and Summer Camps. However, cloth masks were not required for campers (they were for staff). Activities included both indoor and outdoor events, some of which included daily singing and cheering. 


 On June 22, a teenage staff member developed chills during the evening, was tested on June 23, and tested positive on June 24th. Campers were sent home between June 24 and June 27 when the camp officially closed. The results of this investigation adds to the existing evidence that children of all ages are both susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and may be key in transmission. 

SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Infection Among Attendees of An Overnight Camp - Georgia, June 2020

Szablewski, C. M. (2020). SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Infection Among Attendees of an Overnight Camp—Georgia, June 2020. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6931e1.htm#suggestedcitation

These results are limited by (1) the likelihood that attack rates are underestimations due to missed cases or lack of reports, (2) the high rate of cases in Georgia means some cases might been from transmission unrelated to camp attendance, and (3) it was not possible to assess the adherence of prevention measures by individual staff members and attendees. 

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