At least three sleeping camps in Quebec have decided to close temporarily due to COVID-19 outbreaks, Radio-Canada has learned, sending hundreds of campers home just a week into the start of the season.
The count stood at two last night, but a third closure of the camp has been confirmed this morning.
In a letter to parents on Monday, the director of Camp Ouareau in the Lanaudière region said the 150 campers were to be sent home on Tuesday after seven cases of the virus were recorded at the camp.
“We are very sad that this has been reached,” Jacqui Raill wrote. “That decision was not taken lightly.”
Raill said he anticipates that additional cases may be detected in the coming days. The camp will reopen on July 13th.
It was supposed to return to normal for this year’s summer camps, as all were closed in the summer of 2020 and some did not open in 2021.
The Quebec Camps Association (ACQ) has identified at least two other camp closures in the province and says there may be others. The association does not name the camps.
The decision is “unreasonable,” the father says
Closures are a headache and a disappointment for some parents, many of whom plan summers around their child’s stay at camp.
“Seven cases don’t seem like much to close a camp,” said Emmanuelle Lamarre-Cliche, who today has reorganized her day to pick up her daughters at Camp Ouareau.
He described the situation as “completely ridiculous” and the decision “unreasonable” when almost all health measures have been lifted in Quebec and when “there are people crowding into restaurants and theaters.”
He said it is also a shame for his children, who have been dealing with COVID-19 restrictions for the past two years.
“In class they wore masks, did school from home, set aside social life and extracurricular activities. Finally they had a chance to get some fresh air and have fun with friends,” he said.
The camp association is asking for clarity
In his letter to parents, Raill said the decision to close the camp was made following the advice of the local health council in the region. However, public health authorities say they did not make that recommendation.
“We have been informed of the closure of the camp,” CISSS Lanaudière spokeswoman Pascale Lamy said. “The complete closure of the Ouareau camp remains a decision of the camp administration.”
According to the provincial camp association, there are no clear guidelines for deciding to close a camp due to an outbreak.
On Monday, ACQ Executive Director Eric Beauchemin requested a meeting with the Quebec Ministry of Health to clarify the rules.
“We have already experienced outbreaks of gastroenteritis, before COVID existed. It is possible to keep operations in a context like this. We have to see with public health how far we can go and how much room for maneuver we have,” he said.
Beauchemin said the camps follow COVID-19 guidelines, such as distancing, limiting the number of people per accommodation unit to 10, as well as encouraging outdoor activities.
Cases between directors
According to the ACQ, COVID-19 cases were found among councilors. But an absent counselor can deprive a dozen young people of supervision, Beauchemin says.
“It is a headache for organizations. If we are not able to keep what is prescribed [counsellor to child] ratios, we are in a situation where we have to stop camp operations. ”
The shortage of manpower affecting the camps makes the situation even more complex as replacements are becoming scarce.
As for Quebec’s day camps, there are no closures at the moment.