Mitigation measures against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in overnight faith-based camps: summer 2021

I C Kalu; B E Wagner; S C Armstrong; S Permar; S Coffman; C Freeman; E M D'Agostino

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2024.04.013

Mitigation measures against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in overnight faith-based camps: summer 2021

Public Health. 2024 May 14:232:82-85. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2024.04.013. Online ahead of print.

Authors

I C Kalu¹, B E Wagner², S C Armstrong³, S Permar⁴, S Coffman⁵, C Freeman⁶, E M D'Agostino⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
² Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Center for Childhood Obesity Research, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. Electronic address: brooke.wagner@duke.edu.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Center for Childhood Obesity Research, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
⁵ YMCA of the Triangle, Raleigh, NC, USA.
⁶ Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC, USA.
⁷ Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Center for Childhood Obesity Research, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.

PMID: 38749152
DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2024.04.013

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we describe community-based nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) incorporated into COVID-19 mitigation protocols, and SARS-CoV-2 incidence at five faith-based summer camps in the US.

Study design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Six southeastern states within the United States (13 sites) were assessed from May 30 to August 14, 2021 (13 sites; N = 13,132; May-August 2021). Camp mitigation policies and NPIs (including masking, vaccinations, meal arrangements, physical distancing, pre-arrival testing, symptom screening, quarantine/isolation, and ventilation upgrades), and SARS-CoV-2 infections were tracked at each site.

Results: The symptomatic primary case attack rate was 24.7 (range: 0.0-120.0) cases per 100,000 people per week. Fewer infections were observed in camps with greater mitigation protocols.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that nonpharmaceutical mitigation can promote stable access to youth programs for historically vaccine-hesitant subgroups. Policy recommendations for nonpharmaceutical interventions to prevent respiratory viral transmission in overnight youth faith-based camp settings may include outdoor activities, accessible symptomatic tests, prearrival testing, indoor mask use, small cohorts, physical distancing, and protocols to minimize staff exposures during time off.

Keywords: COVID-19; Children; Parks and recreation; SARS-CoV-2; Youth.