Properly treated pool water likely poses few risks to swimmers.
(Unsplash)
Swimmers in Indiana will soon be able to decide if they’re ready to dive back in—two months after pools were shut down to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Stage 3 of Governor Eric Holcomb’s reopening plan allows community pools to open May 24.
Ernest Blatchley, a Purdue University professor who researches chlorine, says pools themselves are unlikely to pose an unusual risk of spreading coronavirus.
“As long as the water is being maintained properly — meaning it's being treated, there's an appropriate amount of chlorine, perhaps you're using UV to augment chlorine, if those things are being done — then the likelihood of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 from the water in a pool is remarkably low,” Blatchley says.“It’s not zero, but it’s going to be an acceptably low risk.”
He says everything else associated with a pool — like crowds, handrails, locker rooms and showers — pose the same risks as any other surface or confined space. And one swimmer may pass the virus to another through the air.
But Blatchley says swimmers are unlikely to face additional risks from the water itself.
He also says that all things being equal, outdoor pools are likely safer than indoor pools because of the benefits of air circulation and solar radiation.
For the latest news and resources about COVID-19, bookmark our Coronavirus In Indiana page here.
