DEM Confirms Burlingame Campground Employee Has Tested Positive for Coronavirus

Worker employed by Maine-based contractor

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is announcing that an employee of the vendor that runs Burlingame State Campground in Charlestown has tested positive for the coronavirus.

The employee is part of a three-person team that cleans restrooms at the campground from 3 PM to 11 PM. 

Because restrooms are closed to the public while being cleaned, the staff has little interaction with members of the public. All cleaning staff wear face coverings and gloves as required by the state's COVID prevention regulations.

Upon learning of the positive COVID-19 test result September 1, the employee notified the vendor, BA Services, which notified DEM. The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) contacted the employee, initiating contact tracing yesterday morning and finishing its investigation yesterday afternoon.

The employee worked four days while symptomatic, last working August 31. The employee's two co-workers were tested yesterday and will remain out of work until the results come back. BA Services deep cleans all restrooms at Burlingame four times a day.

Before opening state campgrounds June 30, DEM assessed the layout of each campground and set limits on the number of campsites available for reservation to create more room between campsites so campers can maintain physical distancing from others.

At Burlingame, the state's largest campground, DEM reduced capacity by 15%, closing 106 campsites out of a total of 720 for 614 sites now open. Also, DEM and BA Services worked closely implementing physical distancing guidelines at the permit office, camp store, and other locations to protect patrons and staff.

The contractor, BA Services, Inc. (BAS), founded as Bangor Abatement, Inc. has been an Incorporated business since 2001 and is family owned and operated with its home office in Bangor, Maine. The company was originally formed as a lead abatement company completing contracts for State Agencies.

This business expanded into property management and janitorial services when awarded the contract for the rest areas and tourist centers located on I-95 with Maine Department of Labor (MDOT).

It now performs such contracts in several states including Rhode Island.