Application of non-pharmaceutical interventions in camps following the onset of COVID-19

Background As the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in the United States in the spring and summer of 2020, many organizations serving children and youth immediately faced significant operational and healthcare challenges. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for the safe operation of youth programmes emphasized the importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), yet few studies have examined NPI usage in summer programmes such as camps. Method This sequential explanatory mixed-methods study explored the utilization of NPIs among camp healthcare providers who completed an online questionnaire followed by one-on-one interviews. Results The study findings indicated that camps consistently used a core set of NPIs to maintain and protect the health of camp participants, including screening, cohorting, hand hygiene, sanitizing practices, ventilation and physical distancing. The study findings further identified specific practices of camp healthcare providers that made NPI utilization possible, as exemplified in the emergent themes of wellness promotion; health awareness and modelling; and camp health service mobilization. Conclusion NPI usage benchmarks from this study, as well as effective practices for NPI utilization, can inform the application of NPIs and other health-promoting practices across diverse formal and informal youth settings.