By Erika Edwards - NBC News
Minors and fully vaccinated teens who attend children's camps this summer will not have to wear face masks or practice social distancing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday. your new guidelines for these recreational venues.
However, the recommendation is not very clear regarding those children who will not be vaccinated when they visit summer camps.
Minors are usually the majority among the attendees.
There is still no vaccine against COVID-19 for those under 12 years of age.
“
In general, people don't need to wear face masks outdoors
.
That includes those who are not vaccinated and those who are fully vaccinated, due to the low risk of transmission outdoors, ”said Erin Sauber-Schatz, director of the CDC's Community Intervention and Critical Populations Task Force, which drafted the guidelines.
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But "although it is very safe to be outdoors, there are key moments when if you are not fully vaccinated you should wear a mask," he remarked.
Those key moments are open to interpretation.
"
People who are not fully vaccinated are advised to wear masks outdoors when there are crowds or during activities
that include prolonged close contact with other people who are not fully vaccinated," according to the guidelines.
The guidelines do not list which of the many outdoor activities that take place at summer camps require the use of masks.
However, Sauber-Schatz addressed several scenarios.
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Minors may need to wear a mask or adhere to social distancing when congregated in large groups, especially while singing camp songs together.
According to Sauber-Schatz, studies show that
"tiny respiratory droplets travel farther" when people sing, chant or shout
.
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But during the Capture the flag game, for example, in which minors are at a distance from each other and run in large outdoor areas, "they should not have prolonged close contact that causes concern." Sauber-Schatz clarified.
"That can be an outdoor activity where they don't need to wear masks."
An important exception to the recommendations for the use of face masks outdoors:
they should not be worn during certain activities where they can get wet, such as swimming or boating.
File photo of a recreation venue in Fayette, Maine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines for youth camp activities.
AP
"A wet mask can make breathing difficult and will not be as useful," the guidelines state.
For indoor activities, the guidelines are much clearer: the CDC suggests as “highly recommended” the use of masks for all those older than 2 years who have not yet been vaccinated.
These recommendations, intended for both day camps and those where minors spend the night,
are not mandatory.
They are designed to assist camp staff in making decisions about their own regulations, which may vary from site to site.
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"I think the camps are going to need a little more support and information," said Dr. Richard Besser, former CDC director and president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
"It would be very helpful if the CDC were more specific."
Children have not been as vulnerable to COVID-19 as older adults, but they can also catch and spread the virus.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, as of May 20, 3.9 million cases of COVID-19 infections in minors had been reported, representing just over 14% of all cases in the country.
Of that number, 316 children died.
The CDC reported that 3,742 children had developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome, an unusual but serious side effect of the virus.
The CDC recommends the vaccine for everyone 12 years and older.
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"It's obvious," said Dr. Buddy Creech, an infectious pediatric disease expert at the Vanderbilt Medical Center of the Universe in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Get them vaccinated before taking them to summer camp.
That will make the risk for them and for the camp much less ”.
Until now, only the Pfizer-BioNTech Pharmaceutical vaccine is available for children 12 years and older.
Moderna expects to request permission from federal health authorities in June for its emergency use in minors between the ages of 12 and 17.
Johnson & Johnson is studying the effectiveness and safety of its vaccine in this population.
Pediatricians agree that the socialization activities that summer camps allow can be highly beneficial for children, especially after a year in isolation and distance learning.
"It is very important that we do not discount the benefits of returning children to a more normal life," Besser said.
"The goal is not that the risk of contagion by coronavirus is zero, but to reduce it to an acceptable point."
