Berkeley Camp Counselors Positive For Coronavirus, Camp Closes

BERKELEY, NJ — Several counselors at Berkeley Township's summer camp tested positive for the coronavirus, said Recreation Director Mark Dykoff. The camp has been closed and is likely finished for the year.

Officials sent out a robocall Tuesday to inform families, but not everyone initially received it because Tropical Storm Isaias affected the township's computers and phones.

The affected individuals were last in camp July 30. New Jersey Department of Health guidelines dictate that children self-quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with an infected individual, Dykoff said.

Officials will contact families by Friday with updated information.

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It was not immediately clear how many counselors tested positive for COVID-19. City officials have not yet returned further comment to Patch about the situation.

The camp was set to run from July 6 to Aug. 14. After the state provided guidelines, Berkeley Recreation chose to divide campers into four locations to maintain social distancing. Campers were required to bring masks and needed to use them when appropriate. The camp also conducted daily temperature checks for staff and campers.

As the coronavirus outbreak developed last spring, summer camps faced an uncertain future. Governor Phil Murphy then announced in June that he would allow day camps to take place beginning July 6.

DOH guidelines included cloth face coverings for students and staff when social distancing couldn't be maintained, daily health screenings and prohibition of certain activities. Read more: Here's How NJ Summer Camps Will Operate Amid Coronavirus Crisis

Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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