Missouri summer camp reports 82 coronavirus cases

A popular Missouri summer camp has reported 82 cases of coronavirus, the Stone County Health Department (SCHD) announced Monday.

Organizers of the Christian Kanakuk Kamp in Lampe, Mo., in the state’s southwest region near the Arkansas border decided to shut down last week after a number of suspected cases were detected. 

On July 2, health officials reported that at least 41 campers and staff had tested positive. By Monday, that number doubled to 82.

“The decision to close has resulted in all campers, counselors and staff to return to their homes,” SCHD said on Facebook. “SCHD will be working closely with Kanakuk Kamps to identify exposed individuals and quarantine those individuals, as necessary.”

Kanakuk’s health services director, Rebecca Duncan, told parents in an email obtained by NBC News, “As your Kamper returns home, we recommend that you consider a 14-day self-quarantine for your child and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19.” 

Health officials said the campers were from 10 different states and different parts of Missouri. The now-closed camp welcomed children ages 6–18 through seven different programs for up to four weeks of “over-the-top fun and activities, deep friendships, biblical discipleship, and focused sports training.”

The camp has not publicly addressed the outbreak.