Five Towners diagnosed with Covid-19 after camp

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Dr. Aaron Glatt, a Woodmere resident who is the chair of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, issued a letter to the Five Towns communities noting that the Nassau County health commissioner called him and asked for his help concerning eight cases of “newly diagnosed Covid-19” in the Five Towns from “campers returning from Camp Shoresh in Pennsylvania.”

Glatt also wrote: “In addition, many other campers there had symptoms and were not tested for Covid-19. The PA DOH [Department of Health] is already involved as well.”

He stated that because of “significant concerns” that New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state’s DOH have regarding exposure, Glatt said that all campers returning from that camp should self-quarantine immediately. All family members exposed to those children should also quarantine, he said.

“The governor himself is aware and has expressed great concern about this exposure and the potential this might have regarding delaying school openings,” Glatt wrote, adding that everything possible should be done to avert an outbreak, and the campers or their family members should be attending shul or any other community events.

Michael Leon, who lives in Woodmere where the largest initial outbreak of Cobid-19 took place in the Five Towns posted on Facebook. “This is outrageous. Camp Shoresh apparently knew campers were displaying symptoms and did not have the courtesy to have them tested.” Leon went on to write that, “unfortunately some people in this community just do not take this issue seriously enough.”  

On Camp Shoresh’s website there is a six-page listing of its Covid-19 protocols. According to its mission it is, "a camp for teenage boys, focused on helping mold well rounded Bnei-Torah and athletes." The goal, camp officials stated on the site is to teach the fundamentals of several sports through daily clinics, leagues, and intercamps with role models and teachers. The camp aims to combine Torah, sports and fun trips and activities designed to ensure an "incredible summer experience" for the campers.

As of press time calls to the camp for comment were not returned.