COVID-19 Preparedness Plan for North Central Camp Cherith

North Central Camp Cherith is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our staff and campers. To ensure we have as safe and healthy workplace, we have developed the following COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Directors and staff are all responsible for implementing this plan. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our workplaces and communities, and that requires full cooperation among our staff, directors, and campers. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health of our workers and workplaces.

Camp directors and staff are responsible for implementing and complying with all aspects of this COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.

Our staff are our most important assets. We are serious about safety and health and keeping our workers working at Camp Cherith. Worker involvement is essential in developing and implementing a successful COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. We have involved our staff in this process by discussing each Minnesota Department of Health requirements at length with our directors and nurses, and with providing a copy of our plan to each worker and inviting them to ask questions and share their concerns. Our COVID-19 Preparedness Plan follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines, federal OSHA standards related to COVID-19 and Executive Order 20-48, and addresses:

hygiene and respiratory etiquette;
engineering and administrative controls for social distancing;
cleaning, disinfecting, decontamination and ventilation;
prompt identification and isolation of sick persons;
communications and training that will be provided to directors and staff; and
management and supervision necessary to ensure effective implementation of the plan.

Screening and policies for employees exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19

Workers have been informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being implemented to assess workers’ health status prior to entering the workplace and for workers to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms. Our policy is as follows:

COVID-19 POLICY

North Central Camp Cherith (NCCC) has taken a proactive stance on all communicable illnesses. Our policy is based on the guidelines and recommendations by the CDC and MDH. Our camp asks that campers, families who are staying at camp, and staff arrive in good health and capable of full program participation. If you or your child has had influenza like-illness (ILI) in the seven days prior to his/her anticipated camp start date, camp should be deferred until 10 days after symptoms began and until they are no longer having acute symptoms for at least 72 hours. A negative COVID-19 test after symptoms and within 5 days of the camping session will be considered acceptable. Insofar as we’re able, our screening process helps us identify potential ILI illness so we can take appropriate action.

Our opening day screening process for campers, families staying at camp, or staff will remain in place to ensure the health and safety of our campers and staff. In addition these screening measures will be extended to our staff. All campers, families, and staff will have their temperature taken by a trained staff member. A temperature below 100°F is considered acceptable. Any temperature above that will be screened further by an RN. Everyone will be asked: “In the past week, have you had a fever over 100°F and a cough or sore throat?” and “In the past week, have you been in contact with someone who has been sick?” People who respond with “yes” to either of these questions will be further assessed by an RN. Daily temperatures or participants and staff will be taken if recommended by the CDC/MDH.

The following criteria will be used by our RN’s to determine influenza like-illness symptoms (potential for COVID-19):

Individual has a temperature of over 100°F and
Individual has a cough or sore throat
Individual doesn’t feel well (achy, fatigued).
Other potential symptoms as outlined by the CDC and MDH

People who present with this cluster of symptoms will be quarantined from others. A trained staff member will call campers and staff 48-24 hours prior to the arrival at camp to assess for symptoms. At which point a decision will be made if a camper is able to attend the camping session. If the camper or staff has positive symptoms the camping session must be delayed and follow the above policy. If a camper is accompanied by his/her parent, the RN and director will work with the parent to reschedule the camper’s week to another available session. If a camper arrived on the bus, we will contact parents about getting their camper home in addition to rescheduling the camper’s week to another available session. Again, attendance at camp should be deferred for 10 days after symptoms began and until there are no acute symptoms for at least 72 hours.

We recognize that individuals may be contagious with COVID-19 without symptoms. Further policies have been adopted by NCCC to limit exposure and ensure swift action in the event that one of our campers or staff develops COVID-19 during our camping sessions.

Camp Cherith will promote workers staying at home, or being quarantined at camp when they are sick, when household members are sick, or when required by a health care provider to isolate or quarantine themselves or a member of their household.

Camp Cherith has also implemented a policy for informing workers if they have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 at their workplace and requiring them to quarantine for the required amount of time. Staff will be asked before leaving for camp, and asked upon arrival at camp if they have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 and will be asked to quarantine if they have been exposed.

In addition, a policy has been implemented to protect the privacy of workers’ health status and health information. Information about staff being asked to quarantine will not be shared outside of individuals who need to know (nurses, directors, etc.)

Handwashing

Basic infection prevention measures are being implemented at our workplaces at all times. Workers are instructed to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout the day, but especially at the beginning and end of their shift, prior to any mealtimes and after using the toilet. All customers and visitors to the workplace will be required to wash or sanitize their hands prior to or immediately upon entering the facility. Hand-sanitizer dispensers (that use sanitizers of greater than 60% alcohol) are at entrances and locations in the workplace so they can be used for hand hygiene in place of soap and water, as long as hands are not visibly soiled.

Handwashing posters will be posted around camp. Hand sanitizer will be available at all activity areas. Staff will be trained to have all participants wash or sanitize their hands at the beginning and end of each activity.

Respiratory etiquette: Cover your cough or sneeze

Workers, customers and visitors are being instructed to cover their mouth and nose with their sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing and to avoid touching their face, in particular their mouth, nose and eyes, with their hands. They should dispose of tissues in provided trash receptacles and wash or sanitize their hands immediately afterward. Respiratory etiquette will be demonstrated on posters and supported by making tissues and trash receptacles available to all workers, customers and visitors.

Social distancing

Social distancing of six feet will be implemented and maintained between workers, customers and visitors in the workplace through the following engineering and administrative controls: Campers will be reminded to social distance when they are not with their own cabin group or division (age group).

Cleaning, disinfection, and ventilation

Regular housekeeping practices are being implemented, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of work surfaces, equipment, tools and machinery, delivery vehicles and areas in the work environment, including restrooms, staff lounge, dining hall, activity areas, and drop-off and pick-up locations. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will be conducted in high-touch areas, such as phones, keyboards, touch screens, controls, door handles, elevator panels, railings, copy machines, credit card readers, delivery equipment, etc. Staff who are working in each given area will be given directions for what cleaning needs to be done after each activity session, meal, etc.

Appropriate and effective cleaning and disinfectant supplies have been purchased and are available for use in accordance with product labels, safety data sheets and manufacturer specifications and are being used with required personal protective equipment for the product. We use quaternary disinfectant “quat” as our primary means of disinfecting surfaces. No personal protective equipment is necessary when using quat. The maximum amount of fresh air is being brought into the workplace, air recirculation is being limited and ventilation systems are being properly used and maintained. Steps are also being taken to minimize air flow blowing across people. We are encouraging open windows whenever possible.

Communications and training

This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan was communicated via email or hard copy to all workers upon arrival at camp and necessary training was provided. Additional communication and training will be ongoing in staff meetings and provided to all workers who did not receive the initial training. Instructions will be communicated to campers and visitors about: how drop-off, pick-up, and camp activities will be conducted to ensure social distancing between the campers and workers; required hygiene practices; and recommendations that campers and visitors use face masks when dropping off and picking up. Campers and visitors will also be advised not to enter the camp if they are experiencing symptoms or have contracted COVID-19. This will be done through emails sent before arrival on site. Directors and staff are to monitor how well we are following through on our communication and will strive to make improvements with each new session. Directors and staff are to work through this new program together and update the training as necessary. This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan has been certified by Camp Cherith management and was posted throughout the camp on June 24, 2020. It will be updated as necessary.

Certified by:
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Kendra Mohn

Executive Director

And Katherine Argo, RN, Health and Safety Representative from the North Central Camp Cherith Operations Committee

Appendix A – Guidance for developing a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

General

Centers for Disease Controal and Prevention (CDC): Coronavirus (COVID-19) – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH): Coronavirus – www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus

State of Minnesota: COVID-19 response – https://mn.gov/covid19

Businesses

CDC: Resources for businesses and employers – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html

CDC: General business frequently asked questions – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/general-business-faq.html

CDC: Building/business ventilation – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

MDH: Businesses and employers: COVID-19 – www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/businesses.html

MDH: Health screening checklist – www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/facilityhlthscreen.pdf

MDH: Materials for businesses and employers – www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/materials

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED): COVID-19 information and resources – https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/covid/

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI): Updates related to COVID-19 – www.dli.mn.gov/updates

Federal OSHA – www.osha.gov

Handwashing

MDH: Handwashing video translated into multiple languages – www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdQuPGVcceg

COVID-19 Preparedness Plan for North Central Camp Cherith

Screening and policies for employees exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19

Handwashing

Respiratory etiquette: Cover your cough or sneeze

Social distancing

Cleaning, disinfection, and ventilation

Communications and training

Appendix A – Guidance for developing a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

General

Businesses

Handwashing

Respiratory etiquette: Cover your cough or sneeze

Social distancing

Housekeeping

Employees exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19

Training