Two New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) K‑4 summer camps closed this week after six people involved in those camps tested positive for Covid-19.
The first closure took place on Monday at Troup School due to four positive Covid cases. The second closure took place at Benjamin Jepson Magnet School on Wednesday due to two positive Covid cases.
Both summer programs serviced city public school students in grades Kindergarten through 4th grade.
NHPS Assistant Superintendent Paul Whyte confirmed for the Independent on Wednesday that both camp closures were due to “multiple individuals in related groups” testing positive for the novel coronavirus.
Citing privacy concerns, he declined to say whether the Covid cases at these two summer camps involved students, staff, or both.
“Out of an abundance of caution, closing was the safest option,” Superintendent Iline Tracey told the Independent about the decision to shutter the summer camps.
These closures come a few days before the camps were otherwise slated to conclude for the summer on Friday.
“As we did contact tracing and went back in time to when people were first symptomatic, it was determined that it would be best to close,” said Whyte. “By the time we would open again, camps would be over.”
Perhaps there should not have been summer camps this summer.