Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Condominium Pools
Many condominium residents are eager to jump back into community pools that have been closed or idle for months due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Fortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued COVID-19 safety guidance to help condominium associations re-open their community pools in a responsible manner. This guidance includes various strategies to promote behaviors that can help maintain healthy operations and prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as:
- Encouraging social distancing, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Provide adequate supplies (hand sanitizer, tissues, non-touch trash cans, etc.).
- Encouraging the use of cloth face coverings when around others by the pool; however, face coverings should NOT be worn while in the water.
- Encouraging people to stay away from the pool area if they are sick, symptomatic or were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- Limiting pool access to only residents and immediate family members, if feasible.
- Limiting the number of people in the pool area at any one time (reservations, time-limits, etc.), if feasible.
- Limiting or prohibiting group events, gatherings or meetings in and around the pool, if feasible.
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces at least daily and shared objects each time they are used (handrails, slides, door handles, restrooms, lounge chairs, tables, pool noodles, rafts, etc.).
- Modifying layouts (chairs, tables, etc.) and providing physical cues or guides to ensure people remain at least 6 feet apart from those they don’t live with.
- Discouraging the use of shared or difficult to clean items (goggles, snorkels, etc.).
- Designating someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Unit owners should know who this person is and how to contact him or her.
- Cleaning and disinfecting the pool with approved chlorine or bromine concentrations.
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