COVID-19 INFORMATION
GUIDANCE FOR PRIVATE AND MUNICIPAL
CAMPGROUNDS
alberta.ca/BizConnect
Email: BizConnect@gov.ab.ca
©2020 Government of Alberta | Published: May 2020
Overview
This guidance is intended to support operators in reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in private and municipal campgrounds. Campground operators must also follow the Workplace Guidance for Business Owners.
COVID-19 Risk Mitigation
General
Place appropriate signage around all entries and throughout the campground outlining policies and procedures such as:
o Physical distancing expectations,
o Hand hygiene,
o Coughing and sneezing etiquette, and
o Cleaning and disinfection practices.
Public access to any recreational amenities and facilities (such as swimming pools and interpretive centers) within the campground remains prohibited at this time.
Businesses within a campground that sell retail items may be open and must follow all public health orders and guidelines.
Table service in food establishments within the campground, if applicable, must follow all public health orders and guidelines.
People whose residence is their recreational vehicle in a campground who are required to isolate or quarantine, may do so in their vehicle.
Booking
Where possible, campers should 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.
Advise campers at the time of booking:
o They should not enter the campground if they are experiencing symptoms including cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat that are not related to a pre-existing illness or health condition, or are otherwise required to isolate or quarantine (except if the park is their residence).
o To meet physical distancing requirements, only members of the same household should stay together on a campsite.
o Bringing alcohol-based sanitizer is recommended for hand hygiene when soap and water are not available (e.g. on a hike).
Campers should check in advance to see if services or facilities that would normally be available are closed, so that they can plan accordingly.
Physical Distancing
Encourage campers to observe gathering restrictions by staying in their own campsite unless using washrooms, showering facilities or leaving to shared public spaces such as trails.
Close group campsites.
Lower the number of campers by reducing the number of campsites that can be occupied or reserved.
Limit the number of people in shared facilities such as washrooms and showers.
Eliminate the use of public picnic shelters.
Eliminate programming that requires people to gather, such as amphitheatre events and guided hikes.
Close or implement appropriate risk mitigation measures in visitor centres.
Control access to popular shared spaces such as green spaces, trails and beaches (e.g. limit parking, erect barriers, set maximum occupancy).
Create sections in open spaces and setting limits of 15 people for each section.
Display posters in common spaces reminding campers of physical distancing rules (e.g. beaches, picnic areas, kitchen huts, trailheads).
Advise campers that if an amenity is busy, such as a shower facility, picnic shelter, beach or hiking trail, it is best to come back outside of peak times or use another amenity.
COVID-19 INFORMATION
GUIDANCE FOR PRIVATE AND MUNICIPAL
CAMPGROUNDS
alberta.ca/BizConnect
Email: BizConnect@gov.ab.ca
©2020 Government of Alberta | Published: May 2020
Cleaning Shared Spaces and Equipment
Proper cleaning and disinfection is a critical component of preventing disease transmission, especially high-touch surfaces in shared-use facilities, such as door handles, taps, toilet flush handles and laundry machine dials and buttons.
Institute a log of daily cleaning and keep records, including inventory of gloves, masks and supplies.
If operators do not have staff capacity to adequately and frequently clean high-touch surfaces, operators should close non-essential facilities.
The cleaning of essential areas, such as washrooms, garbage bins, and water pumps should be prioritized over non-essential amenities such as playgrounds, showers, picnic shelters, and comfort camping facilities (e.g. yurts).
Picnic tables in campsites should be cleaned and disinfected by the campground staff after a camper checks out.
Rental equipment must be cleaned and disinfected after each use (e.g., watercraft, tents, lifejackets and sports equipment) and should only be shared among members of the same household.
Use contactless payment and avoid cash payments where possible.
Where handwashing facilities are not available, such as in pit toilets, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol should be provided.
Recommendations for Campers
Wash or sanitize hands before and after visiting shared amenities with high-touch surfaces such as playgrounds, bear bins, self check-in stations, boat launches, docks, water fill stations, and dumping stations.
If applicable, use washroom facilities in your recreational vehicle whenever possible to reduce traffic at shared-use facilities.
Bring a cloth or sheet to cover the picnic table in your site before using it.
Wear sandals or water shoes in showers.
Dispose of trash in receptacles provided or take it with you to reduce risk for staff and other users