Pools in Ohio can reopen May 26, the office of Governor Mike DeWine announced Thursday.
DeWine’s press conference centered broadly on child care, from day cares to day camps, with youth sports as an offshoot of his “Responsible Restart Ohio” plan for the COVID-19 outbreak. As part of that plan, pools are eligible to open May 26.
The reopening applies to pools regulated by local health departments, both public pools and private clubs. The order does not include waterparks or amusement parks, which fall under the tourism working group.
Recommendations for reopening Ohio pools, DeWine cited, were fielded from various industry-specific working groups. Reopening is subject to jurisdiction of local health departments. Further guidance will be posted to Ohio’s reopening website by the end of the day.
Day cares and day camps, the larger classification of businesses discussed, are eligible to reopen May 31 under enhanced social-distancing and sanitization guidelines. Also eligible to begin reopening on May 26 are gyms and fitness centers, while facilities for non-contact and limited-contact sports (golf, softball, baseball, tennis, paddle sports) can reopen May 26.
Lt. Governor Jon Husted cited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines on risks of coronavirus transmission in treated water. But he stressed that additional measures will be put in place at Ohio pools surrounding the return to the water to ensure that the spread of the virus can be effectively halted.
“We know that athletic facilities, working out, provides both mental and physical benefits to people,” Husted said. “But we also know it’s very important that we keep these surfaces, these places, clean and that we follow the protocols so that we don’t create any unnecessary contact or spread through the reopening of these facilities.”
Swimming Through a Pandemic
The postponements and cancellations wrought by COVID-19 haven’t just affected the Olympics and the ranks of elite swimmers. They’ve 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’s effect on the American summer swimming calendar.
- Connecticut Swimmer Launches Petition to Reopen Pools
- As More States Reopen Pools for Summer, Obstacles Remain
- USA Swimming California LSCs Pen Letter to Governor Requesting Pools Open
- Chattanooga Swim League Joins Cancellation List as COVID-19 Restrictions Elsewhere Ease
- David Marsh to California Gov. Gavin Newsom: “We’d Love to Get These Pools Open”
- Summer Leagues Cancel in Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee; On Hold in Delaware
- Summer Leagues Cancel in Ohio, Nebraska; California Fights To Open Pools
- Northern Virginia Swimming League Cancels Season Officially, But Unofficial Meets Might Go On
- Decisions Loom in Several States to Determine Fate of Summer Swimming
- ‘Tremendously Difficult’ Decisions Loom for Summer Swimming Clubs
- Texas Pools Begin to Open, But Some Cities Holding Back
- With ‘Great Pain,’ Coastal Carolina Aquatic Association Cancels Summer Season
- Kentucky LSC Files Proposal to Reopen Pools in State
Resources for returning to the pool in the COVID-19 era
- COVID-19 Pools Guidance Updated By CDC On “Healthy Environments & Operations”
- Chlorine Not a Guaranteed Answer to Covid-19; Detailed Protocols The Way to Go, Says Expert
- USA Swimming Unveils Road to Competition Roadmap For Summer Return
- Pool Water Unlikely to Spread Coronavirus But Facility Environments Need Careful Handling, Says Expert
- Swim Practice Social Distancing Protocol
- The Worries and Concerns of Lap Swimming When Pools Open
- Proper Ways for Teams and Athletes to Resume Training (USA Swimming)
- Is the Water Safe From Coronavirus? Considerations for Return to the Pool
- Pools and Swimming: Getting Back in the Water Safely
- Coronavirus And Swimmers: CDC Issues Guidance On Water Transmission & COVID-19
Keep opening them!!!
Omg! This picture makes me cry. I do the half goggle submerge all the time.?. Jersey has to open their pools asap. I’m dying to back to the pool.
Go back….
How about passing some of that good mojo over to western PA!
CA!
yep and central new york!
Joanne Kozej-Kisow we’ve all tired of dry land lol
Russ Psenicska My daughter says she can get recruited in cross country now ?
What about Illinois? Pass on some safe opening tips to Illinois.
Thank you Ohio!!!
Yes!
Anne Emaus lets go to Ohio…we could visit Cory…
Ohio is smart! Lucky swimmers!!!
And to VA
Woo hoo
??
Governor JB Pritzker c’mon Illinois!!
Pools in Wisconsin can open as well May 26, but limited to specific numbers which means most of you wouldn’t have the pool as you think you would. Will be very restrictive as it should.
Should’ve opened now
❤️
IHSAA in Indiana screwed this up for us. My kids so desperately need to get back in the pool.
Tim, are you coming to Wisconsin to work the pool thing this summer?
Betty Kadlec Loeffler Maggie and I have decided to remain in Florida. I am fortunate to have a wonderful young man take over for this year?
Tim Ritchie Guess I won’t see you any time soon but the upside is that I will see you in the future. Love your decision, continue to stay safe ?
Betty Kadlec Loeffler Possibly end of August or September- Time will tell.
Tim Ritchie
I hope to see you in the fall. I say again you and Maggie made the right decision.
I’m hoping this opens the “door” or pool in this case in WV!
In AZ the governor is allowing pools to be open now but the pools are stilled closed due to trying to figure out how to open while doing the social distance thing.
Nice… our mayor wants to CLOSE the pool down bc it costs too much. Never mind everyone who swims when it’s 110- PALM SPRINGS CA
Laura Kulp Heebner
Josh Heebner I hear Akron is lovely this time of year…
Sarah!!! You’re almost there
Way to go Ohio!!
Governor JB Pritzker still waiting on Illinois to reopen pools for competitive swim practices and physical therapy with limited capacity and social distancing rules.
Arizona pools can be open now. Seems most will be opening next week. Looking forward to getting back in the water!
Jealous
Come on NJ
Paul Ferraioli