USA: Hundreds of children at youth camp test positive for Coronavirus

Rabun County, USA: An outbreak of coronavirus spread to at least 44% of staff and campers at a sleep-away camp in the U.S. state of Georgia over a week and a half, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said.

NBC News reported that the outbreak happened at Camp High Harbour in Rabun County, about 100 miles (160.9 km) north of Atlanta. 260 children and staffers tested positive for the virus, NBC reported. The camp followed most of the CDC's recommendations to mitigate the spread of the virus, including segregation of attendees by cabin and enhanced cleaning and disinfection measures.

However, campers did not follow rules to wear cloth masks and open windows and doors for ventilation, according to the report. Attendees, including staff and campers, were required to get COVID-19 tests showing no virus before attending. After camp started, a camper developed COVID-19 symptoms, leading the camp to shut down. The Georgia Department of Public Health then recommended attendees get screenings, the CDC report said.

The camp held orientation and a session between June 17 and June 27, when it closed because of the virus. Test results were available for 344 of 597 Georgia resident attendees, but total infection rates were calculated based on all attendees. 

Thus infection rates are probably underestimates, the CDC said, adding that some also could have contracted the virus outside camp. The overall infection rate of the 597 staff and campers was 44%, with an infection rate of 76% among the 344 for whom test results were available.