A new wave at infections was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Georgia. According to the officials, 200 children attending a summer camp in Georgia tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The numbers are even more disturbing, since 600 people attended the excursion in June.
On June 11, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp gave an executive order, where he stated that any citizen wishing to attend an overnight camp is entitled to do so if a negative COVID-19 test is provided at the check-in. CDC reported that the camp started on the 21st of June and ended on the 27th, being highly appreciated by teenagers around 17 years old and younger. In addition to this, 500 attenders out of 600 were part of the aforementioned category.
One of the teenage staff members experienced a couple of symptoms specific to COVID-19 and tested positive with the virus on the 24th of June. Unfortunately, the camp did not end until its official closing, even though a great number of campers were sent home after the result of the teenager’s test.
Furthermore, the organizers of the event did not follow the recommendations of CDC, since the campers were not encouraged to wear cloth masks and allow a proper ventilation of their cabins. Engaging in regular singing and cheering was also part of the deal, the social distancing measures being ignored.
44% of the patients infected with the virus are part of the 11 – 17 age gap, while the children between the ages 6 and 10 were the highest percentage with 51%. CDC underlined the importance of protection against the virus, regardless of age, this case being the example of the fact that children are not immune to COVID-19.
After the outbreak, the camp has been officially closed for this summer.
