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Just a little more than five weeks remain until we are back into another school year, but for most families, attention remains focused on more pressing matters -- vacations and summer camp.
While the Department of Health and Human Resources might have its hands tied on the degree to which vacation travel could continue to spread COVID-19 and its variants, it can still take some action when it comes to summer camps.
Through its Center for Threat Preparedness and the state epidemiologist's office, the DHHR is offering free COVID-19 antigen test kits to summer camps across the state this year. So far, it has handed out 18,246 kits to 32 camps.
"The response from camps has been outstanding," said Timothy Priddy, director of the Center for Threat Preparedness. "Camp administrators have shown their willingness to put health and safety at the forefront and provide a worry-free experience for their participants."
Easy availability of test kits can mean a safer camp experience, and a greater chance campers won't unknowingly spread the virus when they head back home.
But camp organizers have to be on board. In addition to asking for the tests, they've got to issue constant reminders about washing and sanitizing hands, keeping proper distance, staying outside if possible -- and isolating and immediately seeking a test if one feels ill.
DHHR says those who would like to have kits available at an upcoming camp should contact their local health departments to get them. Organizers of local camps should consider doing so immediately.