NC alters guidance on overnight camps in Phase 2, who should be tested for coronavirus
As North Carolina increases its capacity to administer more coronavirus tests, the state expanded its guidance on who it recommends should get tested.
“We want to make sure everyone who needs a test gets a test,” Dr. Mandy Cohen, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, said Friday in a press briefing.
Cohen said the updated guidance is due to the state’s ability to test more people.
“When we first started this crisis we did not have the testing capacity that we need,” Cohen said. “What I can say is we are largely in a very different place.”
“We have the capacity and we want to use it.”
The state’s latest guidance recommends clinicians test any patient whom they suspect has COVID-19, as well make sure these groups have access to testing:
▪ Anyone who thinks they have the coronavirus
▪ Anyone who comes in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
▪ People who live in or come in regular contact with people in high risks settings like congregate living facilities or migrant farm work camps
▪ People 65 and older and people with underlying health conditions
▪ People who come from historically marginalized communities
▪ First responders or healthcare workers
▪ Essential workers
Expanded nursing home testing
Previously, some counties tested only healthcare workers, and people 65 and older and with underlying health conditions. People with mild symptoms were asked to self-isolate at home.
The state tested nursing home residents only when an outbreak occurred. Cohen said the state now wants to conduct periodic tests at nursing homes regardless of whether or not there is an outbreak. Nursing homes and other congregate living facilities have been among those hit the hardest by the coronavirus.
As of Friday morning, there were 2,422 reported cases of the coronavirus at nursing homes in the state and 338 deaths, according to the NCDHHS.
More than 17,000 people in 99 North Carolina counties have tested positive for COVID-19, DHHS also reported Friday. The state has completed 12,279 tests since Thursday, the second-highest one day amount.
About 7% of tests have come back positive, a decrease in recent weeks.
Overnight summer camp guidelines
Cohen on Friday also said in Phase Two there are opportunities for overnight camps to open, with interim guidelines and certain restrictions. She said camp associations have been working with the state.
“Obviously it’s not going to be the same summer camps that folks may have remembered as of last summer.”
“We’re hoping a number of camps will look at that guidance and still be able to proceed for the summer. “
The state recommends camps limit participation to campers from North Carolina and neighboring states, conduct temperature and symptom screening when children arrive to camp, isolate campers when they feel sick and encourage staff to stay home when they are sick.
It also recommends campers social distance and wash hands frequently, and any shared equipment be disinfected. Campers and staff are strongly encouraged to use face coverings when social distancing cannot occur.
Cohen said state officials understand that some camps will look at the guidelines and decide not to operate, saying, “We know this is incredibly challenging.”
She said while many camps have children who are at lower risk of getting the virus, they would be living in tighter quarters and it does involve much travel, including a lot arriving from out of state.
This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 3:43 PM.
