Texas pools are allowed to reopen amid coronavirus, but are they actually safe to use?
Parents might have a hard time finding a pool for their children to cool off in this summer as the novel coronavirus outbreak threatens to linger.
Gov. Greg Abbott’s phased approach to reopening the state’s economy amid the outbreak allowed pools to reopen May 8, but with some caveats. Cities can choose not to reopen their pools and private ones, like those run by homeowners associations, must remain at 25% of capacity.
When going to the pool, there’s no need to worry about the water, according to a Fort Worth epidemiologist. But standard coronavirus advice applies if you’re planning to go to the pool: stay away from other people.
Fort Worth has no plans to open its three aquatics centers, which typically open on Memorial Day weekend. A parks and recreation department spokesman said they wouldn’t reopen until the city felt staff and guests would feel safe at the pools.
Cutting costs may also be a factor in keeping the three closed. Fort Worth faces a roughly $40 million deficit to the general fund from the loss of sales tax revenue due to the recession. Not hiring seasonal employees at the aquatics centers will save $220,000 at a time when city manager David Cooke has asked departments to trim their budgets.
The city of Arlington plans to reopen outdoor pools later this summer, but a firm date and other details haven’t been finalized, spokeswoman Susan Schrock said. Hugh Smith Indoor Pool will reopen Monday, she said, with limited capacity and social distancing enforcement.
Other pools may reopen in June, after Arlington works out hiring and training seasonal staff and guidelines other details with health officials, she said.
Though Abbott’s order allowed pools to reopen, many private pools and parks say they’re still working on the details.
Burger’s Lake typically opens Memorial Day weekend. A person who answered the phone there on Thursday said she didn’t feel comfortable addressing specific questions since plans for reopening haven’t been finalized.
At Heritage, one of the largest master-planned communities in Fort Worth, a woman who answered the phone said management was still discussing how to reopen the pool.
NRH2O Family Water Park, a popular venue in North Richland Hills, hopes to reopen by mid-June, but much is unclear, said spokeswoman Chelsea McClain. The park is waiting on more detailed guidelines from the city and state, she said.
Social distancing still important
There is no evidence the coronavirus survives in well-maintained pool and hot tub environments, said Diana Cervantes, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at UNT Health Science Center. The high levels of chlorine and other chemicals appear to quickly break down the virus.
But that doesn’t mean a dip in the water is immediately safe.
Families headed to the pool this summer should practice the same principles health officials have touted since the outbreak began, Cervantes said. Folks should maintain strong social distancing, avoid prolonged exposure to others and clean high-touch surfaces often.
At a pool those surfaces include the tables, chairs, snack bar areas and the railings of slides or diving boards.
Cervantes recommends families develop “small cohorts” of friends for their children to safely interact with. These would be children who have been home for at least two weeks whose parents aren’t frequently leaving the house for work or other business. A trusted group like that lowers the chance for exposure to the virus while providing social stability, she said.
“When we hit the pools, we like to go with friends and relatives and that’s really what you want to consider — who are you going with and who will be there? Do you know who’ve they’ve been in contact with?” she said.
This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
