Case tracking: Two positive cases in outbreak at University of Waterloo hockey summer camp

On Tuesday, July 13, 2021, Region of Waterloo public health informed us that two individuals who attended a hockey day camp at the University of Waterloo last week have tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, officials declared the cases an outbreak of COVID-19 at the day camp.

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health have defined an outbreak as two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in students and/or staff with an epidemiological link, within a 14-day period, where at least one case could have reasonably acquired their infection at the camp.

Public health officials have contacted all known close contacts of the individuals affected. If you or your camper have not been identified as a close contact of the individuals, you should self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and seek testing if needed.

Our Department of Athletics and Recreation teams are working with Region of Waterloo Public Health to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in children, staff and the community. Our camp protocols and policies follow the guidelines put in place by the Public Health Services of Waterloo. These include:

• cohorts no bigger than 15 campers 
• no interaction between camp cohorts 
• limited equipment sharing (only within each cohort) 
• camp counselors will stay with the same cohort all week 
• staff and campers will wear PPE as required by government guidelines 
• activities will reflect COVID protocols (i.e., if we're not able to re-create game play, we will have socially distanced games and activities for the campers) 
• spaces will be thoroughly sanitized between cohort use 
• daily screening and attestation
• outdoor checkin points for campers & parents