Keeping Camp Safer - Our Response to COVID-19

Please read through for the June 1, 2023 Update to Hip Wah’s Response to COVID-19.

Safety is our top priority. Hip Wah is committed to following State and Alameda County Health Department guidelines to run the 2023 summer program in a manner that reduces risk for our staff, aides, and campers.

Hip Wah will continue to monitor guidelines and will develop protocols based on youth program requirements established by the county. We will also utilize protocols established by our host location.

By registering your camper for the 2023 summer program, you are acknowledging that Hip Wah requires all campers and aides to be fully vaccinated (as defined by the CDC) against COVID and may require you to submit evidence. Hip Wah is also following CDC guidelines in recommending updated boosters.

By June 5, 2023, Hip Wah will determine if it will require masking or require updated boosters. Information will be emailed to the families of registered campers at that time. We will also post updated COVID response information on this site.

June 1, 2023 Update:

Vaccinations and Boosters

All campers and aides are expected to be fully vaccinated (as defined by the CDC) against COVID. Hip Wah is also following CDC guidelines in recommending updated boosters. Vaccination and booster evidence does not need to be submitted to Hip Wah.

Testing Prior to the Start of Hip Wah

As campers may be attending other camps or traveling prior to starting Hip Wah, we encourage you to have your camper take an at-home COVID rapid antigen test during the weekend of June 24-25, 2023. Pre-camp testing results do not need to be submitted to Hip Wah.

Notifications

Hip Wah will inform you via email if we learn of a positive case in the class. Emails will be sent from covidinfo@hipwah.org

To report a positive case, please email us immediately if you believe your camper has symptoms or your camper tests positive. The message should include the date of the first symptoms, the date of the positive test, and the camper’s last attendance date at Hip Wah. This information will enable Hip Wah to send isolation and exposure notices promptly.

COVID Isolation and Masking Protocols

Hip Wah is implementing COVID isolation protocols in accordance with the CDPH and ACPHD released in March 2023:

Positive Test Result

If a camper, volunteer, or staff member tests positive for COVID, they are required to stay home for at least 5 days regardless if symptoms are present. Day 0 is the date of onset of symptoms or the date of a positive test, whichever is earlier. Isolation can end on Day 6 if:

Symptoms are not present or are mild and improving, AND
Fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)

However,

If fever is present, continue isolation until the fever has resolved for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications, such as Tylenol/ibuprofen).
If other symptoms are not resolving, continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until after Day 10.

Upon returning, wear a well-fitting mask around others through Day 10. This means that upon return to camp, masks must be worn while on campus indoors and outdoors for Days 6-10. During lunch, we will provide accommodations for the camper to sit at a different table. Hip Wah will allow a camper to stop masking after Day 6 (and before Day 10) if they can show the results of 2 negative antigen test results taken 24 hours apart. A photo of these tests, with the name of the camper and the dates and times of the tests, must be emailed to us in advance of returning to campus.

Siblings of a Camper Testing Positive

Siblings of campers who test positive for COVID should wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days after the first exposure. They should stay home if they have symptoms and regularly test for COVID until Day 10 after the first exposure.

Multiple Positive Cases in a Class

The threshold before requiring everyone in a class to mask is three. This means that if a class experiences three COVID positive cases within ten calendar days, all campers, aides, and teachers in the class will be asked to mask indoors for ten days from the latest exposure, even if testing negative. We will also ask those in the class to test before returning to camp the next day.