Young kids between the ages of 2-5 years old will no longer be required to wear masks at all this summer at New York’s camps and childcare programs, the state announced, reversing guidance that was released last week.
The state Department of Health and the Office of Children and Family Services issued the updated camp guidance in a statement Monday: “Both agencies understand how difficult it is to require the youngest children to wear masks, and have jointly agreed to revise guidance allowing child care providers to continue the practices and protocols that have been in place since the start of the pandemic by encouraging, not requiring, children aged 2-5 to wear masks, effective immediately,” the statement said.
Unvaccinated kids in New York will also no longer be required to wear masks outside at summer camps or childcare programs if they are in an outdoor space being used exclusively by the program. Older unvaccinated kids are “encouraged but not required to wear face coverings as feasible” inside, the state DOH said. Currently anyone 12 years old and up can receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, while the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shots are only available to adults over 18.
The updated guidance is a reversal of the mask requirements at camps that Governor Andrew Cuomo had issued May 19th, stating that unvaccinated adults and kids between the ages of 2-11 years old will need to continue to wear masks indoors and outdoors when in childcare and camp settings. Various officials representing upstate regions, where many overnight camps are located, had protested the mandate -- Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. told the Times-Union that the requirement "was too far-reaching. These kids are in activities and now they're outside this time of year; it just didn't make any sense.”
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran issued a statement Sunday saying the decision for kids to wear masks should be a personal one: “With new infections at all time lows, I strongly believe parents and pediatricians must once again be firmly placed in a position to decide whether or not it is appropriate for their child or patient to wear a mask. Every child has a different set of circumstances – known best by a child’s family and their healthcare providers. Our children deserve both a fun and safe summer,” she said.
Now, the guidance says that unvaccinated children over the age of two should be encouraged to wear masks except when eating or drinking, showering, swimming or when sleeping, and masks won’t be required outside.
Masks are still required on unvaccinated kids and adults during transportation, and the New York DOH is strongly recommending masks indoors when vaccination status is unknown. Unvaccinated camp staffers are required to wear a mask “at all times,” the state DOH said.
Other guidance for camps and daycares this summer include podding for kids, which should remain six feet away from other pods if there are unvaccinated kids.
“We are thrilled with this updated guidance. Our NY camps ran successfully last summer without the use of face coverings outdoors, resulting in a safe and healthy summer,” says Susie Lupert, Executive Director of the American Camp Association, NY and NJ, in a statement. “Children need camp this year more than ever before and our NY camps are ready to welcome them back for a great summer.”
For New Jersey campers, the NJ health department issued guidance on May 11th stating that camps must conduct daily health screenings for staffers and campers, and masks should be required in indoor settings and encouraged outside when social distancing isn't possible. Kids and unvaccinated staffers must show a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of arriving at an overnight camp. Everyone is required to undergo testing again within 3-6 days. New Jersey is also asking camp participants and staffers to voluntarily quarantine before coming to camp.
