To take my daughter swimming

[AvocadoYUK]

Hello I was just wondering if I AIBU to take my daughter swimming.
Obviously lots of things are being cancelled and closed but it says Coronavirus has been proven not to to survive in chlorinated water and she has been going on about swimming for days (shes a toddler). We would only go into the small kid pool and when I rang up the swimming centre apparently there's barely anyone there
Thoughts?? Xxxxxx

[thepeopleversuswork]

Don't. We're meant to be minimising social content. Whether or not covid-19 survives in chlorinated water is not the only issue. There's tons of other opportunities for exposure.
You're risking infecting high risk people. Stay at home.

[RaspberryBubblegum]

So long as you do not need to isolate for any reason. Contact with older relatives for example. I'm still taking DD to nursery so would have no problem with swimming.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Isn’t swimming pools one of the places you can go because of the chlorine killing off any bacteria

[CheriLittlebottom]

I'm wondering the same. Didn't take eldest DD to her swimming lesson because the pool is packed with parents, but am going mad doing nothing with dd2 in the day, thinking a swim might be a good distraction for us both. There's bound to be less social contact there than in the playground waiting to pick dd1 up!

[slashlover]

FFS! I give up.

Go if you don't care about your DDs or anyone else's health. Things like this have been posted multiple times on the coronavirus board.

[mauvaisereputation]

Why are people being horrible? The OP is asking if it is safe or not, not saying she plans to go even if it isn't safe.

[TabbyMumz]

Swimming pools are still open. You have as much chance of getting it there as you do going to the shops.

[KMoKMo]

Social distancing has been advised. That means staying away from other people and gatherings unless essential.
Is swimming essential? Whether it survives in chlorine is irrelevant. How many people will you come into contact with on the journey there and from? In the changing room? In the pool itself?
It really really isn’t difficult to understand.

[thepeopleversuswork]

mauvaisereputation people are just frustrated that so many people keep popping up with variations on the same theme, which is essentially: "can I break the rules?".

And the answer is: "technically you can unless you in a high-risk group or self-isolating. In practice it would be risky and selfish so why would you."

[RuggerHug]

Changing rooms, the door handles on the way in and out, the lockers, the staff, leaving aside everyone you pass on the way there and back and everyone you'll come in contact with the next few weeks. Go for it sure it's worth it for the 30 mins in the pool.

I get it, it's annoying with a toddler, I have one who loves his swimming but we wouldn't consider it here even if they were open. But don't, it's not just about you.

[Emmelina]

A pool near us.
They’ve sought advice, confirmed it’s fine but extra measures being taken. All users have to avoid if symptomatic or isolating (of course), anyone attending needs to shower before and after getting in the water.
It’s only a small pool though, not sure I’d risk going to a big place with slides etc.! Though hopefully most will be avoiding anyway.

[mauvaisereputation]

I actually don't understand why this would be risky -- you can go swimming without going within 2 m of anyone surely? I guess you could pick the virus up in the changing room.

[paintcolourwoes]

my child will go to his swimming lesson this afternoon - there will be approximately 20 children in the pool, in groups, and 50% of him are at school with him anyway. I consider that to be acceptable in that it's unlikely to increase his risk above going to school more generally. I don't think I would go to a public swimming session at a public pool right now.

[Ostanovka]

Swimming is life in our house, but we are not going. Minimal risk in the water, but plenty of risk in the changing rooms, lockers etc - it's so humid it will be a breeding ground. Stick her in the bath instead!

[thepeopleversuswork]

mauvaisereputation you could either give or pick up the virus at every possible point along that chain. On the way there, in the reception area, in the changing rooms.

The activity itself is relatively low risk, granted. But surely the whole principle is that people are supposed to be minimising unecessary social contact and only participating in essential social activity. Swimming is hardly an essential activity.

[KMoKMo]

@paintcolourwoes

It’s not just about the risk to your son is it though? It’s about the risk to the extended families of everyone he may come into contact with.

It’s not essential. You shouldn’t be going.

[400PoundMoisturiser]

We had an email today from our pool as I take my kids to swimming lessons. They said they are following guidance from Public Health England re the sanitisation of the pool side and the changing rooms etc, and also guidance from PWTAG (Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group) in regards to the safe level of chlorine in the water which helps kill the virus.

So with that in mind, IMO pools are safe, especially if you’re going in quiet time and not busier lesson time like my kids do.

[loutypips]

Pools near me have closed. I can understand why. The staff are being put at risk from those that are using the facility.

Anyway, if chlorine was a magic killer for the virus, why aren't we all covering everything and ourselves in it?

[ILikePaperHats]

A lot of the swimming pools have closed where I live.

[RuggerHug]

The point is kids pick it up and pass it on without realising more than adults do.

[TheReluctantCountess]

Our local swimming pools have closed. It was announced this morning.

[TabbyMumz]

Schools are open and kids are milling around in big groups all day. There are no hand gels and schools arent being disinfected. In comparison, your child is probably safer swimming.

[TabbyMumz]

Our swimming club is still training daily. They've just said for kids to use separate cubicles and get straight in pool when dressed, no milling round, hugging, fist bumping etc.

[CheriLittlebottom]

Schools are open and kids are milling around in big groups all day. There are no hand gels and schools arent being disinfected. In comparison, your child is probably safer swimming.

THIS. There's no hot water in the loos at my child's school for proper handwashing. Soap in the boys toilets ran out yesterday, I doubt it will be replaced. I was within a metre of 6 different parent/child combos at drop off this morning, even though they've changed the arrangements so we don't go inside with the kids anymore.

I would drive to the pool, zero social contact. Can stay away from reception - have a pre paid card which they can look up with my name, no need to hand anything over. Door handles etc exist, yes, but a good handwash before and after will sort that.

Objectively, this is not a risky activity.