Covid-19 Guidelines

Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette

• Encourage all staff, patrons, and swimmers to wash their hands often or use sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol and cover their coughs and sneezes.

Masks

• Encourage the use of cloth masks covering mouths and noses whenever people are not in the water. Everyone should wear masks as they arrive at the pool, prepare on the deck, and until they get in the water.
• People should not wear cloth masks in the water as they may be difficult to breathe through when they’re wet.

Staying home

• Educate staff and patrons about when to stay home (for example, if they have symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID-19, are waiting on COVID-19 test results, or were exposed to someone with COVID-19 ) and when they can safely end their home isolation .

Physical distancing

• Ensure that the number of swimmers in each lane allows adequate physical distance (at least 6 feet) between swimmers.

• Monitor swimmers to discourage huddling at the ends of the lanes during practice or while swimming laps.

Adequate supplies

• Ensure you have accessible sinks and enough supplies for people to clean their hands and cover their coughs and sneezes. Supplies include soap, a way to dry hands (e.g., paper towels, hand dryer), tissues, hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol (for staff and older children who can safely use hand sanitizer)

Signs and messages

Post ​ signs​ in highly visible locations

stop the spread

properly wash hands​

promote everyday protective measures

properly use a mask

regular announcements

We will be taking all the steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 by maintaining a healthy environment.

Cleaning and disinfection

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at least daily and shared objects before and after each time they are used. For example: handrails, tabletops, door handles, surfaces of restrooms, and sinks

• Label containers for used equipment that has not yet been cleaned and disinfected and containers for cleaned and disinfected equipment.

• Launder towels and clothing according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water temperature and dry items completely.

• Protect shared furniture, equipment, towels, and clothing that have been cleaned and disinfected from becoming contaminated before use by storing in a protected area.

• Ensure safe and correct use and storage of disinfectants, including storing products securely away from children.

Ventilation

• Ensure that ventilation systems of indoor spaces operate properly. Increase air turnover or outside air exchange before activities or competition.
• Increase introduction and circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors, using fans, or other methods. However, do not open windows and doors if doing so poses a safety risk to staff, patrons, or swimmers.

Water systems

• Take steps to ensure that all water systems (for example, drinking fountains, decorative fountains, and hot tubs) are safe to use after a prolonged facility shutdown to minimize the risk of Legionnaires’ disease and other diseases associated with water.

Modified layouts

• Change deck layouts to ensure that in the standing and seating areas, individuals can remain at least 6 feet apart from those they don’t live with.

Physical barriers and guides

• Ensure staff, patrons, and swimmers stay at least 6 feet apart from those they don’t live with, both in and out of the water. Provide physical cues or guides, such as lane lines in the water or chairs and tables on the deck, and signs.

Communal spaces

• Stagger use of communal spaces (for example, in the water or breakroom), if possible, and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at least daily and shared objects before and after each time they are used.

• Discourage activities, such as eating, on dry land or in communal spaces that require removal of masks.

Shared objects

• Discourage people from sharing items that are difficult to clean, sanitize, or disinfect or that are meant to come in contact with the face (for example, goggles, nose clips, and snorkels).

• Discourage the sharing of items such as food, equipment, toys, and supplies with those they don’t live with.

• Ensure adequate equipment for patrons and swimmers, such as kick boards and pool noodles, to minimize sharing to the extent possible, or limit use of equipment by one group of users at a time and clean and disinfect before and after use.

Lifeguards and water safety

• Ensure that lifeguards who are actively lifeguarding are not also expected to monitor handwashing, use of masks, or physical distancing of others. Assign this monitoring responsibility to another staff member.

Regulatory awareness

• Be aware of local or state regulatory agency policies on gathering requirements or recommendations to determine if events, such as aquatic fitness classes, swim lessons, swim team practice, swim meets, or pool parties, can be held.

Staggered or rotated shifts

• Stagger or rotate shifts to limit the number of staff present at the aquatic venue at the same time.

Gatherings

• Avoid group events, gatherings, or meetings both in and out of the water if physical distancing of at least 6 feet between people who don’t live together cannot be maintained. Exceptions to the physical distancing guidance include:
  • Anyone rescuing a distressed swimmer, providing first aid, or performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, with or without an automated external defibrillator.
  • Individuals in the process of evacuating an aquatic venue or entire facility due to an emergency.

Communication policies

• Have staff, patrons, and swimmers self-report after their visit to an aquatic venue if they develop symptoms of COVID-19, get a positive test for COVID-19, or learn they had been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

• Notify local health authorities of COVID-19 cases.

• Notify staff, patrons, and swimmers of aquatic venue closures.

Recognize signs and symptoms

• Conduct daily health checks (for example, temperature screening or symptom checking ) of staff. Ensure safe and respectful implementation that is aligned with any applicable privacy laws and regulations.