Mesorah COVID Protocols

CAMP MESORAH: COVID 19 Health Guidelines for the Summer of 2021

Camp Mesorah has the appropriate supervisory and support staff to operate safely and effectively.

Camp Mesorah has implemented an effective plan to prevent COVID-19 from entering our camp and has the procedures, equipment and staff in place to detect it early, contain it and care for those infected, should COVID-19 get into camp.

Camp Mesorah can send out a Nasal Swab/PCR COVID-19 test, as well as in-camp COVID-19 testing capacity (the “rapid test”) , both of which are approved and significantly accurate.

Pre-Camp Testing and Behavior:

PCR testing will be required for all campers and staff regardless of vaccination status prior to arrival to camp.
The only campers and staff who will NOT have to take a PCR test are those that were diagnosed with COVID from March 24, 2021 to the present. A positive COVID test or documentation from your doctor will have to be uploaded to your CampMinder account as “COVID-19 Positive Test Result”.

PCR testing will be done through PM Pediatrics. We strongly recommend using PM Pediatrics as it will streamline testing and reporting results for hundreds of campers and staff (versus going to other facilities not affiliated with PM Pediatrics). PM Pediatrics will be doing a Telemedicine screening prior to the PCR test in order to assess for previous covid infection and its impact on whether a pcr is needed or not, current risks/exposures to COVID, as well as other medical history that may be important for us to have for the summer.
Based on guidelines from our camp medical advisory panel, cautious behavior is required, along with social distancing and masking indoors for the 10 days leading up to camp.
PCR testing will be done 3-5 days prior to camp: June 21st for staff for arrival on June 24th at camp and June 24th for arrival on June 29th to camp. Again, from the time of your testing until the time of arrival at camp please keep to the cautious behavior described above to ensure no one tests positive upon arrival at camp.

Our concept of “camp bubble” for Summer of 2021 has morphed into a “controlled camp environment.” We will be in a strict controlled environment for a minimum of 10 days; after that our medical staff will reassess.

Vaccination:

We strongly suggest vaccination for all who are eligible prior to the start of camp, as it will help ease restrictions. As with all medical decisions you should consult with your primary physician.

As stated above, we will be starting camp as a “controlled camp environment”; after our first 10 days our medical staff will evaluate protocols for staff leaving camp.

We anticipate that unvaccinated staff will not be allowed to leave camp, except for whole camp trips, divisional trips or camp sponsored staff trips.

Arrival to Camp; Screening and Testing:

Based on the updated NYS COVID guidelines posted on May 19, 2021, all campers and staff WILL be allowed to come up to camp on buses.
Besides the pre-camp PCR, all campers and staff will have to complete a pre-arrival screening survey to get on to the camp bus/come into camp.
Buses will be provided for the way home

In-Camp Protocols:

At the start of camp, each bunk, division and specialty staff group will be considered a unit/pod, like being at home with your family. This includes playing sports and all activities together.
Outside vendors will remain masked while in camp. They can be unmasked if vaccinated or performances are outdoors with significant approved social distance. If deemed necessary by our medical staff, they will have a rapid test done for COVID on arrival or proof of a rapid test done within 6 hours of arrival.
All protocols that were developed for Summer 2020 and are still deemed appropriate for this summer (dining room procedures, cleaning and disinfecting of bunks and public areas) will be followed. As always, our medical team will review all current protocols as new science and data is available.
If a camper becomes ill with any suspected symptoms of Covid while at camp, the camper will be tested immediately. Until the rapid test results are returned (15-20 min) and then the send out Nasal Swab/PCR results are back, that camper will be isolated per CDC guidelines in a designated section of the infirmary.
Our medical Staff is trained to identify all known COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone found to have suspected symptoms will be tested. Parents will be notified of any decision to test based on suspect symptoms. Cohorts with one positive case will be tested and isolated until results are returned. Parents of a staff member or camper showing symptoms will be notified immediately and be explained the process of monitoring, isolating, and testing. Any camper or staff member who tests positive for COVID will have to be picked up.