In a concerning development, a sleepaway camp in upstate New York, capable of accommodating up to 550 campers and 275 staff, has reported that 31 children under the age of 12 tested positive for COVID-19 this week. This outbreak at Camp Pontiac coincides with a nationwide surge in COVID cases, largely attributed to the Delta variant, the emerging Lambda variant, and insufficient vaccination rates to achieve herd immunity.
The outbreak began in the girls’ dormitories. Camp nurses acted quickly when they noticed symptoms in several campers and initiated testing. On July 17, one camper tested positive, and by July 22, the number had risen to 31 confirmed cases.
All infected children were under 12, making them ineligible for vaccination. The camp indicated that approximately half of the attendees are under 12, while the other half includes campers over 12, with only four of them unvaccinated. Among the 275 staff members, just three were unvaccinated. Remarkably, it took only seven unvaccinated individuals—out of a total of 875 campers and staff—to trigger this outbreak. Thankfully, none of the vaccinated campers have tested positive so far.
Despite the outbreak, the camp has chosen to remain open, placing the 31 infected children and around 80 others who were in close contact under quarantine. Fewer than 10 of those isolated are from out of state. Camp Pontiac communicated the situation to families via a letter, stating that they opted to test all unvaccinated campers, even though such testing is not mandated by the CDC or the Department of Health.
Fortunately, the affected children are not experiencing severe symptoms and are expected to recover fully. The future of vaccinations for children under 12 in the U.S. remains uncertain, although President Joe Biden has expressed optimism that the FDA will soon approve vaccinations for this age group. He also mentioned that students under 12 may need to wear masks in schools come fall.
The camp emphasized its commitment to the health and safety of its community, assuring families that all campers will be welcomed back after the quarantine period concludes, with options to receive prorated tuition refunds. New York’s vaccination rate is slightly above the national average, with 62% of residents having received at least one dose and around 56% fully vaccinated, compared to a national average of approximately 49% for full vaccination.
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In summary, the outbreak of COVID-19 at Camp Pontiac underscores the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic, particularly among unvaccinated children. With rising cases linked to variants and a significant portion of young campers ineligible for vaccination, camps are navigating tough situations to ensure safety while continuing operations.
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