{"id":431932,"date":"2020-05-13T19:31:35","date_gmt":"2020-05-14T02:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=431932"},"modified":"2020-05-22T19:52:16","modified_gmt":"2020-05-23T02:52:16","slug":"decisions-loom-in-several-states-to-determine-fate-of-summer-swimming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/decisions-loom-in-several-states-to-determine-fate-of-summer-swimming\/","title":{"rendered":"Decisions Loom in Several States to Determine Fate of Summer Swimming"},"content":{"rendered":"

Government decisions in several states this week could influence the extent to which summer swimming is allowed during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n

Ohio<\/strong> Governor Mike DeWine<\/strong> is expected to announce a plan Thursday for the place of swimming pools and summer activities in the state\u2019s economic reopening. The statewide reopening process began May 1 with expanded medical services. Retail was included this week, with outdoor bar\/restaurant service beginning Friday and indoor dining to restart May 21.<\/p>\n

DeWine assembled a working group for youth and adult sports. Ohio has had 25,250 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,436 deaths, as of Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Tennessee<\/strong> won\u2019t open pools at 13 state parks this summer due to COVID-19, it announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cCOVID-19 presents unique challenges for managing pools \u2013 they are confined spaces not conducive to social distancing and the very nature of lifeguarding requires close contact with pool users and creates potential for unnecessary risk in life-saving situations,\u201d Kim Schofinski,<\/strong> the Deputy Communications Director for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, told Nashville\u2019s WKRN. \u201cWe apologize for this inconvenience and look forward to the next opportunity we have to reopen the pool for visitors\u2019 enjoyment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, the question comes down to jurisdiction over summer swimming. In Illinois<\/strong>, where at least one county has given provisional approval to open pools, the final authority rests with the state government<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Clubs in Pennsylvania<\/strong> are fighting to clarify language<\/a> from the state\u2019s \u201cProcess to Reopen Pennsylvania<\/a>,\u201d on whether summer swimming clubs qualify as camps or gyms, which affects which phase of reopening a county or region must reach before they open. Two leagues in the center of the state, the Mid Penn Swim League and Capital Area Swim League, opted to cancel their seasons this week<\/a>, while clubs in suburban Philadelphia are fighting to open, even if their planned summer seasons are diminished.<\/p>\n

Kentucky<\/strong> swim clubs have launched a campaign<\/a> called \u201cSave Our Summer\u201d seeking to get swimming pools reopened this summer. As of Wednesday evening, the petition has more than<\/a> 15,000 signatures.<\/p>\n

Positive news came from Georgia<\/strong> Tuesday, which decreed that public pools will be allowed to open<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wednesday also brought another league cancellation, with the Roanoke Valley Aquatic Association in Virginia<\/strong> wiping out its summer slate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Swimming Through a Pandemic<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The postponements and cancellations wrought by COVID-19 haven\u2019t just affected the Olympics and the ranks of elite swimmers. They\u2019ve trickled down to neighborhood clubs and summer youth leagues, affecting thousands of recreational and competitive swimmers alike. Here is some of our coverage of COVID-19\u2019s effect on the American summer swimming calendar.<\/em><\/p>\n