Please note: these protocols are subject to change depending on guidelines released by the New York State Department of Health.

MASK POLICY
Program participants are required to wear a face covering on campus while indoors. 

• Program participants may only remove their mask while eating and while outside.     
• Program participants will be asked to bring their own face covering (bandanas, neck gaiters, and masks with vents or holes are not acceptable face coverings and will not be permitted). Please pack an extra face covering for your student.
   

HEALTH SCREENING
Your child must complete the COVID-19 Health Screening Questionnaire every day before camp. Please answer all of the questions.

• Do not send your child to camp if the answer to any of the questions is YES. Please call the Health Office at 914-653-3040 for guidance.
• Children should not come to camp or any summer sessions if they:
  • Exhibit ANY symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue body aches, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, congestion, runny nose, or loss of taste or smell).
  • If they have had a known exposure to someone who is waiting for test results or is positive for COVID-19. 

TESTING PROTOCOLS
Testing is a requirement to attend summer programming at RCDS. Unvaccinated children must either participate in pool testing or provide the result of an independent test for the week prior to the start of their program AND every week of attendance, thereafter.   

If your child is fully vaccinated (2 weeks past their last dose), they will not be required to test during summer sessions/camp. Please make sure the Health Office has received a copy of your child’s COVID-19 vaccination card.

FAQ
What is Pool Testing? It is an affordable, easy-to-use surveillance COVID-19 testing method for large groups. RCDS uses Mirimus Labs, which tests using saliva PCR technology. If your child’s saliva test result looks abnormal, you will be immediately contacted by the nurse and will be given further instructions. 

If your child is new to pool testing at RCDS, please sign the consent form: www.ryecountryday.org/ptconsent

What if my child misses a round of pool testing? You must provide the results of a negative PCR or antigen test that has been administered during the same week (Mon. – Sun.) as the missed round of pool testing. Test results should be sent to covidresponse@ryecountryday.org no later than the Sunday before your child is scheduled to return to the RCDS campus.

What if I would like to opt out of pool testing? Testing is a requirement to attend summer programming at RCDS. If you would like to opt your child out of pool testing, they must provide an independent test result for the week prior to the start of camp, and for every following week that they will be on campus. Test results should be sent to covidresponse@ryecountryday.org  no later than the Sunday at 5 p.m. each week.

What is the cost of pool testing? Pool testing costs $25 per child for each week of testing. This charge is not applied for ACTION participants.

What if my child has recently had COVID-19? Individuals who have had COVID-19 within 90 days of the beginning of camp will not need to test. Please send documentation of the positive test result to covidresponse@ryecountryday.org

Pool Testing Instructions

• Your child will be given a saliva sample kit before each testing date.
• Your child should NOT eat, drink, chew gum, or brush their teeth or use mouthwash for at least 30 minutes before filling the vial. Collection is best in the morning. 
• Please make sure the vial is as full as possible with saliva (not bubbles).
• Your child’s first round of testing will be the week prior to the start of programming. They must participate in order to be cleared to attend the following week. Please check for communication from your program for specific pool testing dates/times. 
• After the first round of testing, your child will test every Wednesday they are on campus. Your child will be sent home each week with a new test kit. Please ensure they produce a saliva sample the morning of testing and bring it to camp.
• You will only be notified directly if your child is flagged as potentially positive for COVID-19. The overall number of positive/negative cases will be reported each week by the Program Director. All medical information regarding the testing status of camp participants is kept strictly confidential, in accordance with HIPAA.

Please direct any questions to covidresponse@ryecountryday.org or Nancy Gordon, RN, in the Health Office at nancy_gordon@ryecountryday.org 914-653-3040.