Burlingame Campground Staff Member Gets Coronavirus

CHARLESTOWN, RI — An employee at Burlingame State Campground tested positive for the coronavirus, the Department of Environmental Management reported Wednesday. The employee worked for several days while symptomatic, the department said, but likely did not come into direct contact with the public.

The employee is part of a three-person team that cleans restrooms between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. During cleaning, facilities are closed, meaning the employees have little direct contact with the public, officials said. In addition, gloves and masks are worn throughout the cleaning process.

The employee received the positive test result Tuesday and informed their employer, BA Services, which in turn notified the DEM. The Rhode Island Department of Health reached out to the employee for contact tracing and determined they worked for four days while symptomatic, last on Monday. The other two employees on the cleaning team were tested Tuesday and will not return to work until they receive their results.

BA Services conducts thorough cleanings of all restrooms at the campground four times per day, the DEM said.

As part of the reopening plan for the campground, the DEM assessed the layout of each site and limited the number available for reservations to allow for more social distancing between campers. The state's largest campground, Burlingame's capacity was reduced by 15 percent from 720 total sites to 614 for the season. The DEM and BA Services also worked to implement distancing measures at the permit office, camp store and other locations around the site to protect campers and staff.