Swimming pools

[deathswiftlyfollows]

When do you reckon swimming pools will reopen?

I don’t know but soon I hope - I am so desperate to go for a swim. I was swimming right up until my gym closed at the start of lockdown, I read at the time that swimming was relatively low risk as the chlorine killed the virus

I cant imagine it any time soon, certainly not for the carnage of swimming lessons on a saturday morning. Maybe in a less busy private leisure centre where social distancing could be maintained / generally dont allow kids in the lanes.

I heard leisure facilities (I would expect swim pools to come under that) was the 4 July.

I’m looking forward to a swim and as pp said the chlorine pretty much kills the virus off. Just need to be careful around the changing rooms.

I was thinking the same way because if the hot weather. I'm thinking they might open Hempstead ponds where I love to go sooner than proper leisure centres as it's wild swimming. But for me it has to be bloody hot to think about bearing the frenzy cold water.

I wish it was tomorrow but suspect it will be some way off, sadly.

Chlorine kills the virus so swimming itself is safe. The showers and changing rooms are another matter, however. My swimming pool has a small communal changing room which was pretty cramped at the best of times, so hard to see how it could function with social distancing rules.

I feel really weird about pools. It's not the water itself but the changing facilities. I really want my dc back at swimming lessons but I can't shake the feeling of unease about the changing room scenario.

I know our situation is nothing like Australia but their pools are opening next week.
I really hope it’s soon too. I am really missing swimming.

Oh gosh I hope soon!

I have an 8 yr old who lives for swimming and swims almost everyday in a swim club. He is so lost without it! The swimming helped his mood and kept him v fit. He so desperately wants to go back in the water!! He's climbing the walls without access to water!! Please let the pools open soon 🙏 (Though when he does go back in the pool, my new little couch potato may either sink to the bottom or at least take a while to get back into it all!!)

Our local lake is now open! Changing rooms closed and we get changed by car. One way system and social distancing. No kids though. I guess the fact it’s outdoors really helps too.

I think the changing rooms would be the biggest concern. If people could just arrive, take off clothes by the pool. Swim and go home with a towel round them? Max number of people at one time? Or hire out pools to small groups at a time? It is such a shame they are still closed.

Our have just opened (NL) because of the chlorine. Nothing else indoors is. Here you have to arrive in your costume, no showers allowed, everyone to dive into the pool instantly, one way wide lanes, no chatting, and dry and out as fast as possible.

Maybe swimming pools - and gyms - will operate on a 'by appointment' only basis. You'd have to book a slot and be in and out by a certain time, so as to reduce overcrowding. And I'd say group swimming lessons will probably be cancelled for the foreseable.

Our have just opened (NL) because of the chlorine. Nothing else indoors is. Here you have to arrive in your costume, no showers allowed, everyone to dive into the pool instantly, one way wide lanes, no chatting, and dry and out as fast as possible.

No showers is a bit grim!

And I guess that arrangement could work if you swim lengths purely for the exercise, but for me swimming is as much about relaxation and just enjoying being in the water. Not sure I'd be interested in such a regimented approach.

Do we know that chlorine kills the virus? If so, why aren't we using it more to clean places.
Or are we venturing into Trump territory?

I’d rather shower at home and don’t find no shower grim at all. My shower at home is far nicer than some awful communal shower!

You will shower just not straight away.

Think they meant before you get in del

You're one of those that doesn't bother aren't you?

Do we know that chlorine kills the virus? If so, why aren't we using it more to clean places. Or are we venturing into Trump territory?

What do you think is in bleach ?

That said, you really don't want to be messing around with chlorine in large quantities and spaces. It is spectacularly nasty stuff.

What we need to do, is bring the light inside. And we can do that. We have things that can do that. You get the light, it's outside you see. But then you bring it inside through the mouth or ... we can get it inside.

You will shower just not straight away.

Don't most pools require you to shower before you get in?

Do we know that chlorine kills the virus? If so, why aren't we using it more to clean places.

Chlorine is bleach, so yes we do know that it kills the virus and yes we are using it to clean places.

@DGRossetti

You mean like this?

Ooh yes. No I don’t bother but then I swim in a lake so there wouldn’t be much point!!

I guess you’d just have to trust people had showered before they left home.

@serenada

exactly like that.

Bigly like that.

I guess you’d just have to trust people had showered before they left home.

What if it's a hot day and you walk or cycle to the pool?

And chlorine should be rinsed out immediately as it's very damaging to the hair.

Fine, keep them closed then. Was just thinking of some ideas out loud.

I’m happy in my lake 😜

None of my local swimming lakes are open yet, and DH refuses to be my spotter for me to swim in the river :-( Other venues are open though, and I'm waiting eagerly for the one near me as I really miss swimming and its plenty warm enough for open water now in a wetsuit.

Indoor pools will be a lot longer I think, and even longer for swim clubs and 'fun' swimming. Though having less people in a lane will be great. Maybe lidos before indoor pools though