Campgrounds are permitted to re-open for PEI residents only in Phase #3 of Renew PEI Together

Campgrounds are permitted to re-open for PEI residents only in Phase #3 of Renew PEI Together

Start June 1, 2020

Campground operators on Prince Edward Island are required to implement the measures noted below to protect the health and safety of employees and campers. All plans are subject to change as the situation continues to evolve.

Campground Booking / Reservation / Registration

• Where possible, encourage online, debit and credit transactions.
• Campers must reserve their site online or by phone prior to arriving.
• For contact tracing purposes, campground owners should collect and keep on file the names and contact information for all persons staying at each campsite and keep information for one month.
• Track visitors into campsites and keep information for one month.
• Where physical distancing of two metres (six feet) cannot be maintained, install clear barriers  to separate employee and guest at check-in and any customer service areas such as the camp store.  Ensure barriers do not create a safety hazard for employees or guests.
• Advise campers at the time of booking (and confirm at time of check-in):
  • A camper should not enter the campground if experiencing COVD-19 symptoms, or is otherwise required to isolate (except if the park is their residence);
  • Only members of the same household should stay together on a campsite in order to meet physical distancing requirements;
  • Of services or facilities that are closed, so that campers may plan accordingly.

Campground Employees and Campers

The following is public guidance for all phases of Renew PEI Together and required by all campground employees and campers:

• Stay informed, be prepared and follow public health advice.
• Maintain physical distancing of two metres (six feet) with individuals who are not part of one’s household.
• Stay home when ill and call 811 promptly if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; if not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains 60% – 80% alcohol.
• Don’t touch your face with unwashed hands.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve, and wash your hands directly after.
• Ensure enhanced cleaning and disinfection of commonly touched surfaces.
• Vulnerable individuals should exercise caution and minimize high-risk exposures.

Campground Facilities / Programs

• Recreational facilities that are allowed to re-open include:
  • playgrounds,
  • swimming pools, and
  • wellness / recreational centres.
• Ensure hand sanitizer with at least 60% – 80% alcohol is available in or near all recreational facilities.
• Limit gatherings and ensure physical distancing is maintained.
• Use floor markings in common areas and recreational facilities to indicate where guests should stand to maintain physical distancing.
• Common areas such as laundry rooms must be cleaned on a regular basis and at a minimum five (5) times within a 24 hour period.
• Campers will be asked to use the washroom facilities in their own unit as much as possible.
• Common washrooms / showers must be cleaned on a regular basis and at a minimum five (5) times during daylight hours.
• Ensure soap and/or hand sanitizer with at least 60% – 80% alcohol is provided in public washrooms.
• Campers from different households/campsites will be required to maintain physical distancing at all times.

General Operations

• Encourage campers to observe gathering restrictions by staying in their own campsite unless leaving to use public washrooms/showering facilities or shared public spaces such as play fields.
• Operators may decrease the number of campers by eliminating tenting. If tenting is permitted, operators must increase cleaning at washroom facilities / showers.
• Consider limiting the number of people in shared facilities such as washrooms and showers (one family at a time).  
•  Limit the number of available stalls and urinals to ensure physical distancing in washrooms.
• Ensure picnic tables in shelters are at least two metres (six feet) apart.
• Eliminate programming that requires people to gather, such as amphitheatre events, theatres and concerts.  
• Close or implement appropriate risk mitigation measures in all recreation centres where physical distancing or cleaning or sanitization is not practical or possible to enforce. An example may be an arcade centre where it may not be possible to clean and sanitize after every use.
• Public gathering restrictions must be adhered to in any and all public spaces.
• Indoor dining at food premises permitted according to Renew PEI Together (guidelines are forthcoming following consultation with industry).
• Retail businesses within a campground may be open and must follow all public health orders and guidelines.
• Display posters in common spaces reminding campers of physical distancing rules (e.g. beaches, trail heads, etc).
• Advise campers that if an amenity is busy, such as a shower facility, beach or hiking trail, it is best to come back outside of peak times or use another amenity.

Signage

• Print and post signage at all entries and throughout the campground outlining policies and procedures such as:
  • Physical distancing expectations;
  • Hand hygiene;
  • Respiratory etiquette (coughing and sneezing); and
  • Cleaning and disinfection practices.
• Print and post signage at all entries into the campground to notify customers that they should not enter if they have symptoms of COVID-19.
• At time of check-in, provide each party with an information sheet outlining campground policies.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Shared Spaces and Equipment

• Proper cleaning and disinfection is a critical component of preventing disease transmission, especially high-touch surfaces in shared facilities and equipment such as key pads of debit machines, door handles, taps, toilet flush handles and laundry machine dials and buttons.
• Institute a log of daily cleaning and disinfection practices and keep records, including inventory of gloves, masks and supplies.
• If operators do not have staff capacity to adequately and frequently clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, operators should close those facilities.
• The cleaning and disinfection of essential areas, such as washrooms, garbage bins, etc. should be prioritized over non-essential amenities such as play equipment.
• Picnic tables should be cleaned and disinfected by staff after a camper checks out.
• Picnic tables in picnic shelters should be cleaned and disinfected by staff after each use.
• Where sporting equipment is made available to campers, each piece of equipment should be signed out and cleaned and disinfected after every use (e.g. life jackets, tennis rackets and soccer balls).
• Where hand washing facilities are not available, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% – 80% alcohol must be provided.

Education and Best Practices:

• All staff will be trained to observe COVID-19 safety protocols.
• Staff will be aware of and self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
• Staff will ask any camper to leave the property if they witness any of the safety protocols being ignored.
• When checking into the campground (registration), all campers will be made aware of the measures the campground has taken to make it safe. If they book online, they will receive information by email. If they call, a staff member will inform them.

Recommendations for Campers

• Stay home if not feeling well.
• Wash or sanitize your hands before and after visiting shared campground amenities with high-touch surfaces such as self check-in stations, water fill stations, and dumping stations.
• If applicable, use washroom facilities in your own recreational vehicle, whenever possible, to reduce traffic at shared facilities.
• Bring a cloth or sheet to cover the picnic table in your site before using it.
• Dispose of trash in receptacles provided or take it with you to reduce risk for staff and other users.