{"id":433607,"date":"2020-05-28T09:39:14","date_gmt":"2020-05-28T16:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=433607"},"modified":"2020-05-28T19:32:04","modified_gmt":"2020-05-29T02:32:04","slug":"more-states-reopen-pools-but-confusion-hesitance-still-linger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/more-states-reopen-pools-but-confusion-hesitance-still-linger\/","title":{"rendered":"More States Reopen Pools, but Confusion, Hesitance Still Linger"},"content":{"rendered":"

In many states, the question of how and when to reopen swimming pools is becoming clearer. But the issue remains up in the air elsewhere, especially on the coasts.<\/p>\n

One enduring point of contention as swimming stakeholders have pushed for pool reopening is the issue of how to classify pools. That was the subject of an open letter this week to the Trump administration<\/a>, and it remains a matter of confusion in some states.<\/p>\n

In New Jersey<\/strong>, for instance, Gov. Phil Murphy relaxed restrictions on many activities, including professional sports, Tuesday. But pools remain, in his words, \u201ccomplicated.\u201d From Tuesday\u2019s press conference:<\/p>\n

Outdoor pools are still on the list. They\u2019re a little bit more complicated. When I first started talking about outdoor pools, I had in mind, out of the shore community, mayors and county executives, a legitimate suggestion from a couple of them that if you loosen up pool restrictions, you also give yourself more space in which to spread your capacity, which makes sense. The problem is that you\u2019ve got a municipal pool that is far from the shore that has a very different dynamic. So I would say it\u2019s on the list but I\u2019ve got no news to report on that.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Maryland<\/strong> had endured similar confusion<\/a> over its plans for weeks. But this week, it announced that pools can reopen Friday evening<\/a> at 25 percent capacity, with social distancing and enhanced hygiene measures. The state is also requiring sign-in and sign-out from anyone using pools. A petition to reopen pools<\/a> in the state has garnered close to 5,000 signatures, but areas in the Washington D.C. suburbs remain the last holdouts.<\/p>\n

In Delaware<\/strong>, which will not enter Phase 1 of its recovery<\/a> until June 1, pools remain closed with uncertainty over when they can open. That has inspired one swimmer, Delaware Swim Team member Kyle Skelly,<\/strong> to start a petition<\/a> to Gov. John Carney<\/strong> asking \u201cthat you trust us serious swimmers to return to the pools in a responsible way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nevada<\/strong> will allow pools to open Friday as it enters Phase 2 of its recovery<\/a>. Pools, along with other public gathering spots, will reopen at 50 percent capacity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

West Virginia<\/strong> released a plan on how<\/a> to reopen its pools as part of Week 5 of its \u201cWest Virginia Strong \u2013 The Comeback.\u201d It doesn\u2019t, however, specific exact limits on how many\/what percentage of occupancy pools can accommodate. Tennessee<\/strong>, which has permitted more local control on the part of counties with departments of health, also released overarching guidelines for pool safety<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Opening pools is one matter. How people feel about taking the personal risk, which is low but non-zero, to use those facilities is another issue. Many pools in Iowa<\/strong>, for instance, have pushed back opening dates<\/a> despite getting the go-ahead to resume. MassLive covered one popular swimming destination in Amherst, Massachusetts<\/strong>, that was mostly empty despite being open<\/a>. Citing financial risk, particularly over the question of insurance, some of the homeowner associations in South Carolina<\/strong> that operate community pools are opting not to open<\/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