Campers have returned to their homes and are in quarantine after an outbreak of COVID-19 at a Bible camp in the United States.

The Stone County Health Department (SCHD) says in a Facebook post that dozens of people from Kanakuk K-2 camp in Lampe, Missouri, tested positive last week.

"At the time of this release 82 campers, counsellors and staff have tested positive for Covid-19," the post says. The SCHD says that many of the patients tested positive after they had already returned home from camp.

Only one of the positive cases actually lives in the county.

Kanakuk runs a number of camps in the state of Missouri according to its website. The camp made the decision to close down the K2 location after discussion with the SCHD.

"The decision to close has resulted in all campers, counsellors and staff to return to their homes," the health department says in the post. "SCHD will be working closely with Kanakuk Kamps to identify exposed individuals and quarantine those individuals, as necessary."

In an announcement made on the camp's website before the 2020 season it says "After much prayer, planning, consulting, and preparation, we have decided to open our gates on time for Summer 2020!"

The website also says a number of precautions have been taken at all of its locations, including screening, as well as air purification in buildings and hand sanitizing.

It appears Kankuk has kept its other locations open at this time, though their website and social media make no mention of the outbreak.

Golden West has reached out to the camp for comment.