Dubai municipality gave the green light to resume various business and sporting activities, including indoor swimming pools at the beginning of July, but when re-opening facilities needed to ensure they followed strict guidelines, and maintain a COVID-secure environment for pool users. This included the implementation of social-distancing rules. Swimming pool facilities and related activities are now allowed to operate throughout the Emirates, at least for time being. Everyone is hopeful that the decision to reopen will allow members of the public to return to healthier habits, and allow everyone to enjoy the many and varied benefits these water-based activities provide.
But the swimming pool environment will be different. We are entering a phase that could be described as ‘the new-normal’ due to the ongoing threat of Covid-19. In addition to their responsibilities for drowning and accident prevention, lifeguards will also need to assess pool users for signs of infection, and be assigned roles that maintain social distancing rules. The good news is that according to guidance issued by the American CDC (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) any viruses that find their way into swimming pool water are unlikely to infect others.
“There is no evidence that the virus that causes Covid-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas or water play areas… Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water.”
Though it’s unlikely anyone will get infected with coronavirus whilst actually swimming, it doesn’t mean the activity is completely risk-free. So how can we all keep ourselves safe when returning to enjoy the swimming pool?
All of us have an important role to play to reduce the effects of this pandemic. We need to follow government guidelines, as well as the rules and regulations set out by the facilities we use. If we do this we will keep ourselves safe. We will also protect the health of others. Everyone will then be able to enjoy using swimming pools long into the future.