By Amanda Hoover | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com
When New Jersey summer camps and educational reopen on July 6, they will be required to screen campers for illness, use masks and increase sanitation among other restrictions to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, officials announced Monday.
Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said summer day camps must submit their COVID-19 policy plans 24 hours before opening, and include details for maintaining social distancing and sanitizing facilities.
Groups should include the same children and staff when possible each day, and the campers should not engage in full-contact sports, she said. Camps should also stagger meal times, as well as arrivals and dismissals to avoid large groups packing one area at a time.
The health department guidance also calls for staffers to wear cloth masks, unless they have a health condition, are in extreme heat or are swimming. Children under the age of 2 should not wear masks, but older campers should when they are less than six feet away from those outside of their group.
The guidance does not allow for overnight camps. In addition, off-site activities are also not permitted.
“Opening of camps is important for New Jersey families who are in need of childcare services as a viable option in additional to traditional childcare centers,” Persichilli said. “As we open up more activities, we have guidance in place in order to protect the public’s health.”
Gov. Phil Murphy also made the announcement during his coronavirus briefing in Trenton that municipal and privately-operated pools can open for the summer season starting June 22. Officials will announce guidance for pools on Tuesday, he said, but he noted that summer camps may use pools.
Murphy gave the green light to summer day camps and educational programs late last month as New Jersey continues to move toward Stage 2 of his multi-phase reopening plan. That stage begins June 15 with the reopening of outdoor dining at restaurants and allowing customers inside nonessential businesses at half capacity.
The rules will “ensure that everyone has a safe but memorable summer,” Murphy said Monday.
