Study: Zero Incidents of COVID-19 Infections at Indoor Pools (Updated Stats)

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Study: Zero Incidents of COVID-19 Infections at Indoor Pools

The New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance put together a study on the number of incidents and possible spread of COVID-19 in indoor pools in the state. New Jersey pools initially re-opened on July 2 and the NJSAA has been keeping track of the numbers since then from the 60 facilities that have responded for the study.

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For the study, the NJSSA surveyed owners and/or managers of indoor pools in New Jersey on the incidents of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in their facilities. The results of the initial reporting have been representatives of 60 facilities responding.

They report 327,316 people through their facilities since they re-opened.
They report 0 people becoming infected in their facility.

Here is the analysis the NJSAA offered on the high succcess rate:

How might these results be so impressive? NJSSA suggests:

Strict protocols by swim facilities such as those attached (even beyond those required by the Governors order of NJ Department of Health)

Including swim coaches and swim instructors wearing face masks or face shields.

Including strictly limiting occupancy and managing appointed swim times.

Conducting indoor swimming in an environment of warm, humid air and chlorinated water.

If C19 is carried in droplets, as we’re told, those might be carried up away from swimmers in the hot air (?)

If C19 droplets fall into the water, the chlorine “neutralizes/destroys” them (?)

- When a swimmer vigorously exhales, it is nearly always, with their face in the water.

The NJSSA was formed for the purpose of unifying all New Jersey aquatic organizations in to one cooperative, collaborative family. The NJSSA serves our state by advocating for viable, safe conduct and enjoyment of the critical life skill of swimming. NJSSA is an all-volunteer organization, currently applying for non-profit corporate status.

Here is a list of some of the facilities that reported to the NJSAA for the study:

Little Dolphins Swim Academy

Randolph YMCA

Westfield YMCA

Brigantine Aquatic Center

Secaucus Rec Center

British Swim School Hudson Waterfront

Clifton Boys and Girls Club

Goldfish Swim School – Wyckoff NJ

Goldfish Swim School – Closter, Nj

Boys & Girls Club of Lodi

METUCHEN-SOUTH AMBOY YMCA

West Essex YMCA

Lyndhurst HS, Garfield Boys Club, Lodi boys Club

Breakwater Beach

Kroc Center

Madison Area YMCA

YMCA of Montclair

Madison Area YMCA working out of Summit YMCA

Wayne YMCA

Ridgewood YMCA

Peddie Aquatics Center

MCCC

Red Bank Family YMCA

Greater Morristown YMCA

Garfield Y

Summit Area YMCA

Louis Perez

Lakeland Hills YMCA

Swimquest

Meadowlands Area YMCA

Sussex County YMCA

Goldfish Swim School–Denville

West Essex YMCA

Jersey Wahoos

Envy Sports Club

NJ Race Club

Excel Swimming

Goldfish Swim School

YMCA of MEWSA

Hamilton YMCA

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Billy Christopoulos

2 years ago

Share this data with Connecticut swimming

Joanne Newton

2 years ago

Reply to Billy Christopoulos

Billy Christopoulos yes! I’m going to share it with our club coach!

Kim Kristen Georgiades

2 years ago

Reply to Billy Christopoulos

Billy Christopoulos it is what it is right now. It is not about being in the pool it is being out of the water. The kids will gather. I had to keep a tight eye on them this summer. It was not easy thank god we were outside.

Joanne Newton

2 years ago

Reply to Billy Christopoulos

Billy Christopoulos yes! I’m going to share it with our club coach!

Melissa Knuth

2 years ago

Jenni Kneuertz

2 years ago

Reply to Melissa Knuth

Melissa Knuth I know. NAAC has had zero known transmissions from practices but New Albany has cancelled extra curriculars and limited pool time for us to 10 person pods which only allows for very limited practice time for the top groups/ big kids. ? I felt totally safe sending them, but we have to do what New Albany says…

Liz Hudson

2 years ago

#keepthepoolsopen

Kelly Spencer Williams

2 years ago

There has been no spread in and club/team in the world. Safest place for our swimmers right now is in the pool!!

Matt Hanna

2 years ago

Most spread is social gatherings, indoor dining and bars (at least here in OH, per contact tracing data). It’s not spreading at swim practice.

Jennifer Stuller Zugelder

2 years ago

Reply to Matt Hanna

Matt Hanna our club team is doing an incredible job and my kids have been able to continue swimming through all of this. ? Ava swam a 34 50 free at the end of practice yesterday. So hoping she gets JO cuts!!! Still have 1.5 years in 10&U

Anna

2 years ago

Reply to Matt Hanna

This data is also taking into account alot of people taking themselves out of the equation. There would be spread of we all acted like 2019. Lots of people are not swimming. Those people are sacrificing basically to allow the few that are less risk adverse to keep swimming.

Jennifer J

2 years ago

Reply to Anna

Not at the club level. These kids need to be in the pool to excel. Not one swimmer at my daughters club isn’t swimming.

Lisa Lee

2 years ago

Debra Stanavage Neeb
Ian Lee
Sarah Basile

Jonathan DeWitt

2 years ago

Common sense…duh

Nick Lizalde

2 years ago

JT Tiernan

Raymond Vervlied

2 years ago

Brenda Jepperson-Vervlied

Sonja Skinner

2 years ago

Oregon too! But we still had to “pause”. Ugg! #oregongovbrown

Marie Kopinski

2 years ago

Reply to Sonja Skinner

Sonja Skinner Michigan is “pausing” too. Ugh

Sonja Skinner

2 years ago

Reply to Sonja Skinner

Diana Terry Bolding

2 years ago

Then why are we canceling events

Andy Gallion

2 years ago

Reply to Diana Terry Bolding

Diana Terry Bolding due to fear and ignorance, a bad combination.

Diana Terry Bolding

2 years ago

Reply to Diana Terry Bolding

Andy Gallion yep it’s sad for these swimmers ??

Andy Gallion

2 years ago

Reply to Diana Terry Bolding

Diana Terry Bolding hard to motivate to suffer when you can’t swim a meet.

Diana Terry Bolding

2 years ago

Reply to Diana Terry Bolding

Andy Gallion yes my son gets up every day at 4:15 am and swims 2 hours before going to in person school for 8 hours and can’t even compete except against his teammates. These poor kids have dedication to the sport and USA swimming doesn’t have their back.

Andy Gallion

2 years ago

Reply to Diana Terry Bolding

Diana Terry Bolding my college swimmer has limited pool time due to PA regulations and was locked down for 14 days including exams due to contact tracing. Brutal

Margo Spencer Walsh

2 years ago

Reply to Diana Terry Bolding

Diana Terry Bolding the travel

Diana Terry Bolding

2 years ago

Reply to Diana Terry Bolding

Andy Gallion that’s terrible So sorry

Barbara Kula Gehrs

2 years ago

Reply to Diana Terry Bolding

Diana Terry Bolding at least he gets to do both…my kids school is remote only and sports got cancelled…nothing like a double whammy.

Amy Be

2 years ago

Governor Jared Polis

Mike Chapman

2 years ago

Reply to Amy Be

I’m in CO too. Just sent a message to CDPHE today with this link. Sent something to Jeffco Health yesterday. The pool is not a gym!

Dick Beaver

2 years ago

Big surprise…..!

Kate

2 years ago

Hey Illinois Swimming! Hey JB Pritzker! How about you read this article instead of shutting down the pools and ruining the lives of children?? Let them swim!

Crystal Linn Bennington

2 years ago

Eric Householder

Gabi Gray

2 years ago

Shocker!!!????

John P. Noll

2 years ago

#IHSA #ipdh

Lisa Lee

2 years ago

Debra Stanavage Neeb

Jason Hite

2 years ago

Devin Thomas worth a read.

Lyle Campbell

2 years ago

IUPUI had case the meet last week

Carrie Hall

2 years ago

Reply to Lyle Campbell

Not exactly. They had a swimmer test positive on a Tuesday afternoon following a meet on Saturday and Sunday. I believe they found that the swimmer was not exposed at the pool, but rather another outside source.

Chris Blaisuis

2 years ago

Reply to Lyle Campbell

Lyle he tested positive on Wednesday after the meet ended Saturday. He didn’t test positive at the meet.

Jessica Middleton Newman

2 years ago

Exactly…

Jamie McElroy

2 years ago

Lauren Ann

2 years ago

Reply to Jamie McElroy

Jamie McElroy ❤️❤️

Cameron Beauregard

2 years ago

MHSAA

Cindy Rowe

2 years ago

And yet they just shut down the Olympic pool by us in Toronto for all training except for those already on the national Team Canada… crazy unfair…

Shirley

2 years ago

Good to know. Just some information for perspective. There was a group infection in a South Korea indoor swimming pool recently in Ansan. They are organized enough to test the 600 people who had contact with the index patient and users of the pool. Don’t know how they do social distancing there though.

Barbara Kula Gehrs

2 years ago

Kelly Brown

Marie Armentero

2 years ago

Olivier Dudas

Andrea de Gier

2 years ago

Sebastiaan Rottier?

Nicolò Russo

2 years ago

Francesco Barantani are we sure??

Francesco Barantani

2 years ago

Reply to Nicolò Russo

Nicolò Russo good point! ?

Mickey McNeil

2 years ago

It would be awesome if the safety protocols and limitations of numbers were followed in other situations like these pools are doing in NJ

Liz Sedwards

2 years ago

Rebecca Ford

Erik Lebsack

2 years ago

#cityofboulder

Lisa Lee

2 years ago

Debra Stanavage Neeb

2 years ago

Wish we could tag gov. Lamont

Lisa Lee

2 years ago

Reply to Debra Stanavage Neeb

Debra Stanavage Neeb right????

Peter Lozyniak

2 years ago

Reply to Debra Stanavage Neeb

Post it on his page

Sandi Healey

2 years ago

In Oregon our pools have been shut down again. This, after getting the kids back into the water (at only one of our 3 pools) for just two weeks. USA Swimming…help our governor get it right.

Mickey McNeil

2 years ago

Article should have included the impressive Covid 19 compliance plans needed to operate pools in NJ : https://njaa.com/covid-19-pool-standards-guidance-provided-by-the-state-of-new-jersey/

Mark CasinoBrown

2 years ago

is it the chlorine contact with the nostrils?

Nick Lizalde

2 years ago

JT Tiernan

Jana Abu Alghanam

2 years ago

Closing the swimming pools was a big mistake … because they contain chlorine, which is a sterile substance that kills all viruses and germs ?

Gail Gross

2 years ago

No need to close pools! They are safe

Allie Jon

2 years ago

Shocker

Kathryn Newberry

2 years ago

A pool is the only athletic environment that is in a constant state of disinfection.

Andy Gallion

2 years ago

Yet governors are shutting down pools…..but science….

Ana Line Carrillo Barrón

2 years ago

Obvio ?

Aoife Ryan Lambe

2 years ago

Helen Mulligan

2 years ago

Bethan Laker Swim Ireland

Athanasia Phelan

2 years ago

Covid gave these governor’s power and now they are drunk with it.. It’s their drug. They can’t give it up.

Ja Bounce

2 years ago

Swimming World references Romano Spica Vincenzo University of Rome [Bio here — http://www.uniroma4.it/?q=node/1035 ] (Feb/March-ish). Basically sitting on Committee (last time listed 2017)… I would like to see ANY/ALL current testing of Athletes/Chlorinated pools correlations FOR/AGAINST why this decision necessary… All U.S Aquatic Facilities should have SOME results!!! I find it completely ridiculous the no major aquatic facilities (or any for that matter – so far) have used any/all resources around them (I.E – Major University, Sci, Bio, Chems, teams/groups, etc) to HELP with day-to-day testing of Pool Chemicals & pos/neg affects on Athletes.. Most (if not all Major facilities (even smaller ones) have a College/Testing facility close at hand… #TimeToOpenUp&MoveForwardWithTesting-InTheU.S.A