How safe is it to use public swimming pools in a pandemic

Summer is here and as temperatures rise throughout the region, many residents are looking for ways to cool off such as splashing around in public pools.

But this time, like all other public activities, things are a bit different to ensure people use the facilities safely as the country continues to battle the pandemic.

Also, as more public pools reopen their doors and more residents are heading to the public amenities to take a dip, many people have had questions about the safety risks of going to a pool amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Virologists have indicated that while properly treated pools’ water is quite safe from the virus, close contact when engaged in other activities with others above water and other sections of the amenities comes with risks.

To mitigate risks and make using the City of Ekurhuleni pool’s a relatively safe activity, the metro introduced mandatory protocols that must be followed at its public pools.

The ways to mitigate risks, include the establishment of a new maximum number of people allowed at the pool facility at one time to support social distancing, routinely disinfecting the amenities, and the use of masks when not in the pool water.

To stay safe, swimmers are urged to avoid interacting with others nearby, especially maskless strangers, especially in the pool since you can’t wear a mask while in the water.

Sanitise your hands, especially after touching surfaces that can harbour the virus such as bathrooms and changing rooms door handles and taps.

The following Covid-19-safe measures are implemented in the city’s facilities:
• Wear a face mask at all times inside and outside the facility, except when swimming. When swimming in the pool, masks are not advised out of safety concerns.

• Keep a distance of 1,5m while standing in the queue to get into the pool or in the pool space.

• Temperature screening and sanitation are done at access control points by security guards.

• Entrance hall fitted with a sanitiser dispenser, for personnel and bathers.

• Bathrooms and change rooms are fitted with soap dispensers and users are encouraged to wash their hands regularly when using the bathrooms or change rooms.

• Avoid crowding while in the pool deck by encouraging people to still maintain social distancing if not swimming in the pool.

• Toilets and change rooms are cleaned regularly to maintain a hygienic environment.

• Under alert level one, the stipulated maximum number of people allowed in outdoor gatherings is 2 000 and 750 for indoor spaces. However, most of the City’s pools cannot accommodate such numbers. Therefore, the City’s established maximum occupancy limit for bathers should not exceed 50% of the pool facilities’ usual indoor or outdoor maximum occupancy capacity.

• As experts say, indoor spaces present more of a risk to contract Covid-19 than outdoor spaces, the metro maintain a reduced number of bathers allowed at its indoor pools, such as the Boksburg North pool.

• The bathing load provides for a social distance of two metres between bathers in the pool.

• Special PPE for pool personnel and lifeguards include two cloth face masks, one shield per lifeguard and latex disposable gloves.

• Each pool is supplied with Ambu (artificial manual breathing) unit. This is special equipment used to perform CPR under Covid conditions, to prevent the transmission of the virus from either the lifeguard to the patient and vice versa.