Summer is often synonymous with the words pools and beaches, a subject of concern amid a global pandemic. The opening and closures of beaches have been debated throughout the last few months with very different viewpoints. Beaches, such as those in Newport Beach, California, and Clearwater Beach, Florida, opened early on but were extremely overcrowded. This led public officials to enforce restrictions on the number of people allowed into the beach at a time. Meanwhile, states like New York and New Jersey took longer to reopen their beaches. Each state is on its own trajectory when it comes to making decisions.  

For the states that have opened their beaches, there are some restrictions on being in the water, at least in New York. Most people are happy to be out of the house and are complying with the rules by walking along the shoreline or lying on a beach towel that is 10 feet apart from other families or groups. However, in regard to public pools, the answer is less clear for the summer. 

Going To A Beach Is Safe

Health experts say that you and your family can go to the beach this summer as long as you maintain social distancing. The beach is an outdoor activity, which makes it more difficult for the virus to spread, as opposed to being indoors. This is why many beaches have closed their concession stands to avoid people gathering close together. It is recommended to bring your own food and drinks in a cooler. 

The main risk of going to the beach is the sharing of public restrooms. Public restrooms at the beach are typically not the most sanitary to begin with, at least from what I’ve noticed. There’s sand all over the floor and I have even witnessed people not washing their hands and walking out. Some beaches have signs that only allow one group or family at a time in the restroom, so the bathroom line may take place outside the facilities. 

Going To A Public Pool Is Risky

Every summer, public pools are used by hundreds of adults and children without pools themselves. While the rules say you must shower before using a public pool, it is doubtful that many people follow that. It is also doubtful that people wash their hands before using a locker or holding onto the pool stairs. 

Due to the fear of a virus resurgence in the most affected parts of the country, health experts believe that some but not all public pools will open this summer. For the pools that do open this year, there will be limited capacity and reservations. If an area is currently affected by the virus or has been severely affected, local officials may keep that specific pool closed to prevent a resurgence of cases. 

Chlorinated pools are safe to use during the pandemic, you cannot catch the coronavirus from a pool. The main issue is having too many people in the pool at the same time, or sitting in pool chairs right next to each other. To prevent this in a public setting, lounge chairs will be spaced out appropriately and cleaned often. Social distancing in the pool can allow everyone to enjoy their summer and get out of the house. 

Learn The Rules Before You Go

Before visiting a beach or public pool this summer, I recommend taking a few minutes to look online for any rules or restrictions. This way you don’t prepare and drive over to the destination and be denied entry due to limited capacity regulations. Also, certain beaches and pools require the wearing of face masks while others do not.