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Life took a sudden turn when COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. With no one unable to predict when everything will be back to normal, summer camping ventures were put on hold. While the world is still grappling with the pandemic, many countries have adopted stringent measures to bring it under control.
Currently, Switzerland stands at position one to become the safest country in the world for the novel coronavirus. This is exciting news, especially for hot weather tent camping enthusiasts. It’s time to go summer camping again.
One of the Most Covid-19 Affected Regions
Switzerland has been one of the most affected countries by the coronavirus in Europe. Up to 30,934 people have been infected out of which 1,923 have since died. A recently released report revealed that the rate of infections in the country has continued to decline. The rate of mortality and spread has also declined.
The study analyzed various factors that are critical to the re-opening of the economy while still ensuring that residents are safe. Here are the factors and how Switzerland scored to move from number 11 to become the safest country in the world.
- Quarantine efficiency – 144 points
- Government efficiency – 188 points
- Healthcare readiness – 101 points
- Regional resiliency – 93 points
- Monitoring and detection – 131 points
- Emergency preparedness – 95 points
As a result of these impressive scores, the government has been relaxing the stringent restrictions while ensuring residents remain safe. Researchers involved in this study were quoted saying:
“In our previous safety and risk assessment, regions which had very high levels of emergency preparedness and a capacity to efficiently manage national crises achieved the highest score because they had the greatest likelihood of managing the early stages of the pandemic. However, now that it has become clear who did and did not succeed to face that first wave optimally, and as regions begin to prepare for relaxing lockdown conditions and economic freezing mandates, it is the factors which impact their capacity to withstand the future of COVID-19, and to prevent economic fallout without sacrificing public health and safety and the risk of second waves of infection, that take on the greatest levels of importance moving forward.”
There’s still a lot to do
Even though Switzerland is currently leading, the government should adopt measures to ensure residents remain healthy and the economy thrives post the pandemic. According to the report, one of the most effective ways of doing so is by cutting down the country’s dependency on export-related income. Authors of this report also noted that:
“Switzerland has proven to be a fundamental actor in the fight against Covid-19 and its management scheme a model to keep in view, but it is important that the reopening process of the Swiss economy is carried out with caution, assessing the dynamics of the virus, otherwise all the sacrifice and joint work of citizens, government and organizations will have been meaningless,”
You can now Go Summer Camping!
Following the relaxing of the COVID-19 restrictions, you can now allow your children to go for summer camping trips. The Swiss government has put in place stringent measures to ensure campers are safe throughout the camping session. For example, only a limited number of campers can attend camp at a time.
Summer camps have laid down strategies on how to operate their camping sites while adhering to the laid down measures. This means you shouldn’t worry about missing out especially if you had booked in advance. How will summer camps ensure that campers are safe? Read on to find out.
Regular Screening
Screening on the campers and staff at the camp should be done regularly. Children attending day-time summer camp should be screened at the drop-off point. Part of the screening process should involve checking body temperature and asking families about exposure and symptoms. Campers who have a fever and those that report any exposure should stay at home. Anybody who’s sick should also be encouraged to stay at home.
Parents and their children should be screened every day. While screening is important, it’s worth mentioning that between 15 to 45% of people are asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) even when infected. This means that while screening will reduce risk, it won’t eliminate it.
Stay Outdoors where Possible
According to the CDC, outdoor activities are less likely to expose you to the virus. This is because maintaining a safe distance is easy to achieve while outside than when indoors. Due to this campers should engage in outdoor-related activities as much as possible. Any indoor related activities such as arts and crafts should also be done from outside.
In case of poor weather, summer camps may want to postpone especially if they’re unable to adhere to social distancing requirements. As summer camps resume, Les Elfes has put in place measures to ensure that campers and staff are safe.
Part of their plan includes having proper camping essentials such as masks and soap and water to facilitate hand washing. Frequently touched surfaces at the camp are also disinfected regularly and hand sanitizers are strategically located in various areas. Further, supervisors will talk to the campers every day on how to protect themselves and others from getting infected.
Staff and Camp Supervisors should be Cautious both Inside and Outside the Camp
During pre-Covid times, it didn’t matter how people spend their weekends and evenings. Today, however, what you do may expose you to the virus. Due to this, staff and supervisors should be cautious during off-hours to avoid contracting the virus and introducing it to the campers. The camper’s families too should be cautious during their day to day activities.
Remember, any action you take during these uncertain times can expose you and those that you love to the virus. When all the parties involved remain vigilant, we’ll not only keep each other safe, but we shall also beat the virus.
What about Overnight Summer Camp?
Overnight camp can be both risky and safe. How can a camping facility run an overnight camp effectively while ensuring that everybody involved is safe? The facility may demand that every registered camper self-quarantines before the summer camping trip.
The camp can then have strategies in place to test all attendants on arrival. They can also promote strict self-distancing practices and have everyone wear their masks. Campers should maintain a safe distance from one another even during meal times. The camp can run more tests after one week.
If no one tests positive, then they can be sure that the camp is virus-free. Does this mean that campers will be free to engage in activities and mingle together freely? This will depend on whether the camp remained closed to visitors during the quarantine season. If no visitors came in, then campers can engage in their favorite activities without risk of contracting COVID-19.
Campers, Counselors, and Staff should Strictly Remain at the Camp
To ensure that the camp remains virus-free, campers, counselors, and the staff should remain inside the camp for the entire camping period. Further, no visitors from outside should be allowed at the camp. Remember, whatever makes summer overnight summer camps safe could also make them riskier.
Summer camp enthusiasts travel from far to get to their preferred camping centers. Should any of them test positive or develop coronavirus related symptoms, then there wouldn’t be a nearby quarantine facility. Infected kids would have to return home. Assuming that kids developed symptoms while at the camp, the supervisors would have no option but to cancel the event.
In the end, all the parties involved will be left with frustrations having wasted an entire summer. Still, personal health is more critical than the fun that comes with going summer camping. Supervisors at Less Elfes are committed to ensuring that campers are safe and protected at all costs.
Parents can be assured that players at the facility will do everything to ensure children go back home virus free. This strategy is designed for overnight summer camps that run for more than two weeks. They should also have in place strict guidelines on arriving and leaving the camp. In this case, all the participants should arrive on the same day and remain inside the camp until the event is over.
Can Summer Camps be Safe and Still be Affordable?
Currently, many families are struggling to meet their basic needs. This means they won’t afford camp if the process of making them safer raises costs. What can camps do to make the premises safe but affordable?
Camps should avoid a situation where only people who can afford camp achieve safety while those who can’t are exposed to danger. To make camp affordable and safe for all, authorities can pledge public funds to camps. When camps start operating again they’ll be helping the economy.
More parents can go back to work while the kids enjoy their time at summer camp. Summer camps can even serve as an example for schools as they prepare for re-opening. Players should strive to determine the best way to ensure that kids are safe in groups. Achieving success in summer camps increases the chances of succeeding in school.
Finally
People across the world have been under quarantine for a long time now. You can break this routine by attending summer camp as a family, or sending your children on a summer camping trip. Switzerland is currently the safest place to go summer camping in the time of coronavirus.
Book a slot today so that your child doesn’t miss out on the next summer camping event.
