Are Swimming Pools Safe During Coronavirus Pandemic?

From Outdoors to Indoors

Endurance athletes in today's digital age have various alternatives for outdoor cycling and running that enable triathletes, runners and cyclists to continue maintaining their active routine from the comfort of their living room. In-home swimming machines however, have not been democratized yet.

Chlorine Vs. Coronavirus

Knowing that chlorine is used to disinfect the water in pools, a question that has been asked lately by many the swimming and triathlon community – is swimming pool a safe place during the Coronavirus Pandemic? 

We followed the updates from The Pool Water Treatment and Advisory Group (PWTAG) and Public Health England:

"We have checked with our national leads who confirm that coronavirus would be inactivated at the levels of chlorine used in swimming pools.”

“Public health opinion is that it is generally safe to go swimming at this time. Water and the chlorine within swimming pools will help to kill the virus. “However, visitors to swimming pools are reminded to shower before using the pool, to shower on leaving the pool and to follow the necessary hygiene precautions when visiting public places to help reduce the risk of infection.”

According to a document from The World Health Organization, chlorine level of 15mg.min/litre is sufficient to kill non-enveloped viruses such as poliovirus, rotavirus and coxsackievirus, and an enveloped virus such as Covid-19 would be inactivated at even lower levels.

Better Safe Than Sorry?

Despite the water might be safe, we should avoid going to swimming pools during this time following to Government’s advice on social distancing that recommends to reduce the amount of contact we have with others.

While we all should stay safe and avoid taking risks, being creative is highly recommended as Daniela Ryf and Wanger Women's Triathlon team have showed us earlier this week.