coronavirus and swiming in apublic pool

[sensiblesometimes]

Would you swim at a public pool in a lockdown area.
YABU: yes perfectly safe
YANBU: no unsafe

I would have if the changing room as Covid secure.

Although in actual Lockdown - like Leeds from today - no, stay home.

Pools have chlorine in, and chlorine kills the virus. So, I would - but I wouldn't hang around having a shower or in the changing rooms. I'd take a long dry robe and wear that to/from the pool. Obvs if you are taking the bus or walking/cycling more than a short distance to the pool then this might not be feasible....

I've been a few times to our local waterpark style swimming pool as theyve reduced numbers to a tiny fraction of capacity and their changing room and locker system is impeccable.

My kids do swimming lessons in the local sports centre too, run by the same company. Again numbers are tightly controlled and a one way system for entry and changing. This is going to go on for years, we can't forget to live.

Yes, been a few times with kids. It's lane swimming not mucking about. Controlled numbers, directed to a specific cubicle so they can T&T if necessary. Showers out of bounds. Perfectly safe.

I did (not in a lockdown area but I don't think it's that relevant here). As pps said, we used the lockers out of necessity, then sanitised our hands. We avoided the changing rooms and showers though. No problem at all. I think in a lockdown area if it's open for business and local to you then take precautions and go for it if you're feeling comfortable. As someone said earlier, this virus won't go away for the foreseeable, unfortunately.

DS swims several times a week with his club. No use of changing room, so blanket on the car seat home, wear easy on bottoms.
The general idea is that swimming in a well spaced lane is pretty safe: the changing before and after needs to be slick and well-managed. Arrive ready to swim, keep mask on until the last minute.

I have done, though it was in Germany where things are organised, and wearing of masks in changing rooms, reception/cash desk is 100%.

I have picked the unsafe option but it really is a question of degrees of risk. Is it as safe as staying in your living room- no. Is it a high risk activity - not if the pool is well run. I mean, if you are shielding or diabetic or have a heart condition I'd suggest a nice walk instead but if you are younger and healthy and swimming is important to you then it's not unreasonable for you to go.

I've been swimming in an outdoor heated pool near me, and I feel very safe. There are limits on numbers and a clockwise lane swimming system, and an outdoor area for changing and showers, where it's easy to distance. Not that I change, I just towel down and throw a dress over my damp costume and shower at home. I probably wouldn't if the area was in lockdown though.

Just come back from swimming in a lockdown area. One person per lane, except in the separate shallow pool which is open for a single family. No showers or changing facilities and an exemplary one way system and masks worn when not in the pool. I feel less safe at the supermarket to be honest. The only downside is the car now reeks of chlorine .

I live in a lockdown area and had been swimming 5x a week Since they reopened - but have stopped this last week. I’m pregnant, and for me it’s not worth the anxiety/risk. It’s less the actual people in the pool with me (it’s all very well run and quiet) and more the knowledge that they have 3 hours of kids swim classes happening beforehand! I don’t expect all their germs/coughs etc just disappear when they all leave, sadly, and given so many kids are asymptotic/may just appear to have a cold...

Of course

I haven't returned my son to swimming lessons. It can wait until spring in my opinion and I'll review then.

Nothing is “safe”. We have been in local lockdown since 1st August so over it a bit now! You can’t live like this forever.
We go to the next town (which isn’t under local lockdown) for a nice swim. Pre booked so max 30 in the pool, temperatures taken, very clean and easy to distance.
It isn’t safe but it’s as safe as most other things except staying at home and going for boring walks.

If the pool is open, then yes. Ours is well-organised, with booking and limited numbers, clear rules on changing and showers (arrive swim-ready, no showers.) I prefer an emptier pool anyway, so it's an improvement for me.

I'm not in a lockdown area, but if they feel it's safe to open, I'll carry on swimming. It's safer than the supermarket.

Nothing is perfectly safe, but I’ve been going x3 per week at gym since it first re-opened. It’s the only exercise I can do and crucial for my mental health, so I accept the risk.

And I’m in a lock down area with very high cases in Greater Manchester.

Also it’s temperate taken on the way in, every other locker and shower closed. Hand sanitiser, cleaning spray and blue roll out to wipe your locker and bench. Struct timing and booking system. The only thing I’m unsure about is hair dryers being used. However I was told they passed their covid audit this week, and if they didn’t would be closed disk immediately.

To be honest, it's probably safe - but I haven't used my gym & swim membership since before the lockdown in March as I just don't fancy it. It's not that I think it's unsafe as such, it's more than the regulations and hoops you have to jump through make it so much less enjoyable.

So that's £600 paid up front for the year wasted.

The warm humid atmosphere would worry me, does the virus linger in the atmosphere?

I've been going to the lane swim session 3 times a week since the pool reopened at the start of the month. Lanes have been reduced to 3 with a max of 6 people per lane and you have to swim in a certain direction depending on what lane you're in. The changing rooms and showers are open but they've made the showers socially distanced and you get assigned a cubicle to use upon arrival. I certainly don't feel unsafe in any way.

yes. Not allowed to use change rooms or shower at my pool (right now) anyway.

@Beebumble2 it can yes but prefers cold, dry air.

Thank you Porcupineinwaiting.

It's safe. The chemicals in the pool are there for a reason.
But despite that - no I wouldn't.