N.S. summer day camps allowed to open, but must have plans for health measures

HALIFAX — Summer day camps for children are now allowed to open in Nova Scotia as long as they have a plan to follow public health measures to guard against COVID-19.

In a news release, Premier Stephen McNeil says allowing camps to operate is an important step to support families and to increase “some sense of normalcy” this summer.

Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, says every day camp that wants to reopen must have a plan in place to mitigate risks, but won’t need to submit them for approval.

Under the province’s guidelines, the plans must cover areas such as increased cleaning, staggered pick-up and drop-off times and the screening of staff and campers.

Group sizes are limited to 10 and camps must keep the same groups of children together including siblings, while keeping multiple groups separated.

Measures such as increased hand-washing must be adhered to, while staff will have to ensure that equipment-sharing is minimized and that children aren’t involved in the preparation or serving of food.

The use of non-medical masks won’t be required, although children and staff who want to wear them can do so.

Day camps will also be required to keep daily attendance records as well as a registry of all people who enter their facilities, and must include confirmation of daily screening for symptoms.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2020.

 

 

The Canadian Press