Will Girl Scouts of Connecticut be cancelling any programs?
All GSOFCT sponsored in-person activities and events are suspended until July 15. If desired, but not required, in-person troop meetings will be allowed following the State of Connecticut, CDC, and GSOFCT guidelines outlined in Phase 3 of Connecticut’s Reopening Plan.
Before any meetings take place, upon receiving a copy of guidelines/safety measures from the co-leader, the caregiver/parent will be asked to provide consent via email for a girl’s participation at an in-person event.
Out-of-town troop trips will not be permitted until after September 1, 2020 unless utilizing GSOFCT property.
Extended trips (overnight travel) will not be permitted until after September 1, 2020.
Will consent be required for girls to participate in in-person activities?
Before troop meetings take place, upon receiving a copy of guidelines/safety measures from the co-leader, the caregiver/parent will be asked to provide consent via email (or in some other written form) for a girl’s participation at an in-person event.
Any meeting to be held in a location other than your troop’s normal meeting place will require a “Troop Trip Application” form https://form.jotform.com/91685810839166 completed.
Is Girl Scouts of Connecticut cancelling summer camp?
GSOFCT’s Camping Services will be moving forward with the opening of four of our day camps for the 2020 Summer Camp season – Aspetuck (Weston), An-Se-Ox (Oxford), Merrie-Wood (Manchester), and Laurel Day Camp (Lebanon).
Residential camp programs (Camp Laurel Residential) are to remain closed for this season per the State of Connecticut’s guidelines restricting overnight camping. We have made the difficult decision to close camps Katoya (Milford) and Carlson (Bristol) for this summer. This is not a permanent closure for these camps, but rather an opportunity for us to best focus our staff, programming, and resources while adhering to the safety guidelines for summer youth camps in Connecticut.
We are working with the American Camp Association to ensure we are following best practices and will continue to look to the CDC and State of Connecticut Office of Early Childhood for additional guidance.
Families who have not yet registered for camp may do so by visiting our website www.gsofct.org. Feel free to reach out to our Camping Services Team at camp@gsofct.org should you have any questions or concerns.
What is Girl Scouts of Connecticut doing in response to the Coronavirus?
Girl Scouts of Connecticut has continued to monitor the situation closely. We will be extending the suspension of GSOFCT sponsored in-person activities and events until July 15. If desired, but not required, in-person troop meetings will be allowed to resume at that time, following the State of Connecticut, CDC, and GSOFCT guidelines outlined in Phase 3 of Connecticut’s Reopening Plan. This includes in-person troop meetings, cookie booth sales, and all events - indoor and outdoor. We will reevaluate at that time and post updates as they are available.
The Council has convened a taskforce which is actively monitoring guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and State of Connecticut to respond quickly to any shifts in their recommendations.
All girls – even if you’re not a Girl Scout yet – are invited to participate in our virtual programming offered through GSOFCT at Home. Girl Scouts and their families can join our GSOFCT @ Home Facebook Group which features daily challenges and activities.
To help ensure you can stay connected to your community, Girl Scout and otherwise we are providing information about internet services. Please note that we cannot endorse any particular service. Providers are offering free internet to support online school and work access through the Keep Americans Connected Pledge: https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html
o Comcast – free 60 days: https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19
o Altice – free for those with K-12 and higher education learners: https://www.alticeusa.com/news/articles/feature/corporate/altice-usa-brings-free-broadband-k-12-and-college-students-during-coronavirus-pandemic
o Charter/Spectrum – free for those with K-12 and higher education learners: https://corporate.charter.com/newsroom/charter-to-offer-free-access-to-spectrum-broadband-and-wifi-for-60-days-for-new-K12-and-college-student-households-and-more
o AT&T – Removing Home Data Caps: https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html
Does Girl Scouts of Connecticut have an online conferencing tool that my Troop or Service Unit can use to meet virtually while public gatherings are discouraged/prohibited due to COVID-19?
We are fortunate to be living in a time when digital tools are readily available to allow us to connect in meaningful ways, while maintaining social distance. While we cannot endorse or support specific online meeting tools for your use, there are tools troops and Service Units may use for virtual meetings. See below for a list of free and low-cost tools that could be useful to you. We encourage troop co-leaders to look at these and alternative options and discuss with parents and girls to determine what the best solution is for your troop’s needs.
You will likely find that of the options below, Skype, Facebook Group, and Google Hangouts will be the most intuitive for you and your youth, as well as platforms that they may already be familiar with. Zoom is providing services to schools to help with virtual learning so this may become a popular and familiar platform.
Video and Audio-Conferencing Tools with free versions
While all of these options have a free version, please note you may be prompted to consider their upgraded versions for a subscription fee.
- Zoom - FAQ
- Note: Meetings durations maximum of 40 minutes in free version
- Skype - Support
- Note: Up to 10 participants free
- Webex – Help Center
- Note: Limited file and content sharing in free version
Chat and Collaboration Tools with free versions
Additional low-cost tools for collaboration and conferencing to consider if the above options do not meet your group's needs.
What is a coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. About 2% of people with the disease have died. People with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
What steps can girls, volunteers, and staff take to prevent the spread of coronavirus?
Please follow all of the steps recommended by the CDC (see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf). The same simple steps that prevent the spread of ordinary flu viruses work against coronavirus and other illnesses:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Cough into a tissue or your elbow (not your hand). Then throw tissue away and wash hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick, with temperature above 100.0 F (38.7 C) or do not feel well, appear weak or ill.
- Consult your health care provider if you have special health conditions that put you at increased risk.
Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted through the air?
Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air.
Can COVID-19 be caught from a person who has no symptoms?
The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill. World Health Organization (WHO) is assessing ongoing research on the period of transmission of COVID-19 and will continue to share updated findings.
What is CDC doing about COVID-19?
This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available. CDC works 24/7 to protect people’s health. More information about CDC’s response to COVID-19 is available online.
Where can I go to learn more about COVID-19?
In addition to the State of Connecticut and CDC websites, anyone with questions can contact 2-1-1 or text CTVOID to 898211. The hotline is available 24 hours a day. Additionally, Yale New Haven Health Services has set up a call center. The number is 203-688-1700. That line is staffed with a live person from 7am - 7pm.
Are children more susceptible to the virus that causes COVID-19 compared with the general population and how can infection be prevented?
No, there is no evidence that children are more susceptible. In fact, most confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported from China have occurred in adults. Infections in children have been reported, including in very young children. From limited information published from past Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreaks, infection among children was relatively uncommon.
Are children at increased risk for severe illness, morbidity, or mortality from COVID-19 infection compared with adults?
There have been very few reports of the clinical outcomes for children with COVID-19 to date. Limited reports from China suggest that children with confirmed COVID-19 may present with mild symptoms and though severe complications (acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock) have been reported, they appear to be uncommon. However, as with other respiratory illnesses, certain populations of children may be at increased risk of severe infection, such as children with underlying health conditions.
Are there any treatments available for children with COVID-19?
There are currently no antiviral drugs recommended or licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for COVID-19. Clinical management includes prompt implementation of recommended infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings and supportive management of complications. See more information on CDC Clinical Guidance for COVID-19. Children and their family members should engage in usual preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory infections, including covering coughs, cleaning hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and staying up to date on vaccinations, including influenza. Additional information on prevention measures can be found here (Prevention for 2019 Novel Coronavirus).
How long will it take to develop a treatment or vaccine?
Several drugs are being tested, and some initial findings are expected soon. A vaccine to stop the spread is still at least a year away.
Who is at risk for COVID-19?
Currently, those at greatest risk of infection are persons who have had prolonged, unprotected close contact with a patient with symptomatic, confirmed COVID-19 and those who live in or have recently been to areas with sustained transmission.
Since COVID-19 is spread through contact with others, is it still safe for our girl to be selling cookies in public places?
All GSOFCT sponsored in-person activities and events are suspended until July 15. If desired, but not required, in-person troop meetings will be allowed to resume at that time, following the State of Connecticut, CDC, and GSOFCT guidelines outlined in Phase 3 of Connecticut’s Reopening Plan. Please contact Product Sales if you have specific questions related to the cookie program.
Does Girl Scouts have any medical expertise?
While Girl Scouts strives to be a resource for girls and their caregivers, we want to ensure that official guidance of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other official sources reach our members in a timely and efficient manner.
There is a lot of hate/ racism towards the Asian community, how is Girl Scouts of Connecticut creating a safe space?
Unfortunately, these kinds of discriminatory attacks can occur at times like these. Girl Scouts of Connecticut strongly condemns acts of discrimination against the Asian community, or any other demographic group. We are proud of our legacy of inclusion and diversity. Girl Scouts is and always will be a safe space for all girls, regardless of the demographic group to which they belong.
