No matter where you live, chances are that the pandemic is weighing heavy on your mind. With that said, it safe to go swimming during coronavirus? In this post, we’ll see what the medical experts have to say to date. Typically, many people choose to take a relaxing dip in the pool to relieve stress. .
Understanding the Coronavirus
Before we get started, let’s review. Just what is the coronavirus? Coronavirus is a family of viruses. This particular strain is brand new, and technically named SARS-CoV-2. Once a person is infected, the resulting illness is referred to as COVID-19.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this is the seventh coronavirus known to infect humans. This is the same viral family as SARS and MERS. There are some discrepancies with how people are referring to this current outbreak. For simplicity, we’ll just use “the coronavirus” throughout this article.
Above all, we’ll only be relaying information from reputable sources, including the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO). This post should not be taken as medical advice. For further information, please refer to guides from the official CDC and WHO websites. Additionally, contact a medical professional for specific questions or health concerns.
How Safe is Swimming During Coronavirus?
Now that experts have been studying this infection for several weeks, what do they say about swimming during the coronavirus outbreak? Surprisingly, it seems that it is still safe to go into the water. The CDC has a page that specifically addresses all water-related issues.
Here’s the official statement about swimming during the coronavirus outbreak:
“There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.”
So there you go: it seems that the water and chlorine in swimming pools will help to kill the virus. That is wonderful news for swimmers.
Shower Before Swimming
One word of caution: whether there is a coronavirus outbreak or not, you should always practice good personal hygiene before hopping into the water. No matter if you’re in a community pool or your own personal hot tub, our bodies can be oilier and dirtier than we realize. As we once covered in an earlier blog post, some bacteria such as crypto can be transmitted through swimming pool water.
If you don’t properly bathe before swimming, this can help to spread infection. Fortunately, this does not seem to be the case for swimming during the coronavirus… but there are still plenty of other bugs to worry about, so jump into that shower before jumping into the pool!
What About Our Drinking Water?
Water safety is always a major concern, and that includes drinking water. Fortunately, there is more good news from the CDC:
“The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water. Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.”
Many people worry about the state of their drinking water during any outbreak, so this is great to read. There’s been a lot of bad news lately, but hopefully this information can help.
Once again, for further information about the pandemic, please contact a medical professional. Stay safe, everyone.
