{"id":434934,"date":"2020-06-08T11:51:21","date_gmt":"2020-06-08T18:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=434934"},"modified":"2020-06-08T11:51:21","modified_gmt":"2020-06-08T18:51:21","slug":"california-to-reopen-pools-in-phase-3-as-soon-as-june-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/california-to-reopen-pools-in-phase-3-as-soon-as-june-12\/","title":{"rendered":"California to Reopen Pools in Phase 3 As Soon As June 12"},"content":{"rendered":"

California\u2019s approach to reopening pools from the COVID-19 pandemic has largely been piecemeal, but as it enters Phase 3, a wider change could be coming.<\/p>\n

The state last Friday laid out the framework for opening swimming pools in Phase 3 of its Resilience Roadmap by no sooner than this Friday, June 12. While not explicitly naming pools in many reports, the step includes reopening \u201chigher-risk workplaces,\u201d including \u201ccampgrounds, hotels, gyms, bars and museums<\/a>.\u201d Pools would likely open at diminished capacity and with increased safeguards in place. The state\u2019s guidance on gyms parts out specific guidance for opening pools.<\/p>\n

The specific openings will still be subject to county-by-county review of local conditions<\/a>. From the San Jose Mercury News<\/em><\/a>:<\/p>\n

During a Friday press briefing, Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/strong> said the state will continue to provide guidance for \u201chow\u201d to reopen certain sectors of local economies, but it\u2019s up to individual counties to file attestation forms that will determine \u201cwhen\u201d businesses can resume operations.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cAs we continue to release guidance on how different sections can reopen with modifications, it is important to remember guidance doesn\u2019t mean go,” Dr. Sonia Angell,<\/strong> the director of the California Department of Public Health, told the Los Angeles Times<\/em><\/a>. \u201cYour local health officer will make the final decision about which sectors will open guided by data specific to your community.\u201d<\/p>\n

California\u2019s pools have battled to open sooner, and some have succeeded via local lobbying. Public pools in Santa Clara County, for instance, were allowed to open June 5<\/a>. Contra Costa County reversed itself late last week by, according to the San Francisco Chronicle<\/em>, reopening outdoor pools.<\/p>\n

Other counties in the state have petitioned to have their pools opened sooner than Phase 3, but those efforts have achieved mixed results.<\/p>\n

The state also issued industry-specific guidance for reopening<\/a> (pdf). Among what the state labels as \u201cadditional considerations for swimming pools\/aquatic venues\u201d are:<\/p>\n