Will it be safe to swim in a swimming pool? A Purdue University expert sets out the difference between pool water and the environment
Ernest “Chip” Blatchley III, an Environmental Engineering professor at Purdue University, says there is no data to show how the coronavirus responds to chlorine, but that chlorine effectively inactivates similar viruses. The bigger issue as pools start to open up after COVID-19 lockdown, is the wider environment at swimming facilities, he suggests.
Blatchley researches how chlorine in swimming pools reacts with contaminants such as human body fluids, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, according to a news release from Purdue University. He is one of the more respected people in his profession, having studied water treatment and chemistry for more than 20 years. His work has resulted in dozens of peer-reviewed published papers on pool water chemistry and he is currently serving on two committees within the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code to develop guidance on pool management in the U.S.
Swimming pools across the United States are starting to re-open to the public under strict guidelines that vary by state. The question that is on everyone’s mind: is it safe? According to Purdue University research, if pool chlorine levels are properly mandated, treated pool water poses minimal risk when it comes to spreading the disease. The bigger problem is coronavirus spreading through poor air circulation, overcrowding, and on contaminated surfaces. He notes:
“In the U.S., the general guidance for keeping pools properly disinfected is maintaining a free chlorine concentration between 1 and 5 milligrams per liter,” Blatchley said. “If a pool has that concentration, there would be very little infective novel coronavirus in the water.
“On the other hand, the air in an indoor pool is likely to pose similar risks of coronavirus spread as other indoor spaces. A person’s risk would not be affected by the water. The most relevant issue would be contamination of the air or surfaces in these facilities.”
Many states in the US have decided to open up public pools but have limited the number of patrons in a facility. USA Swimming sent out to each of its members detailing strict guidelines that the swimmers will have to adhere to in order to run practice. A club team in Alaska incorporated special lane line shields at the end of each lane to minimize the contact between swimmers when sitting at the wall.
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
This article says indoor pool air would be just as infectious as outdoor air. But there is peer reviewed research bout high humidity quickly breaking down influenza and corona viruses. Indoor pool rooms have very high humidity therefore making the air much safer to breathe as the virus breaks down very quickly. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nioshtic-2/20042261.html
Liesl Taner outdoors is much safer especially in the sun. Your link is about the flu!
Erika Marie it applies for both influenza and Corona viruses.
Im saying swimming in both indoor and outdoor settings is safer than being in a restaurant, gym, etc.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3551767
Liesl Taner outdoor is pretty safe so indoor pools r probably the safest place to be
Andy…. please. Your first statement or summary of the article is not what the author says. Very disappointing reporting. If you don’t have capacity or training to conduct proper journalism than simply don’t. Facts actually do matter. Another drop in quality for Swimming World. Look at the comments section. For the most part pure deplorable stupidity. Encouraged by this article. Shame on you and Swimming World. I won’t be renewing.
Liesl Taner just goes to show that anyone can write an article and spin to their view.
Liesl Taner I’ve been in a few indoor pools for competitions…sat in the last bleacher, top row…and the fumes alone would kill…I think whether your indoors or out it’s safe. People need to make whatever choices are right for them…and let others make their own decisions. If an individual is still afraid to swim…then they can choose to skip…but if another person chooses to swim…swim…it’s their choice. Willing to sign waivers to get my swimmer back in.
Jason Barnard the first post was from the CDC.gov page so they are just not anybody
Al JJ Renaud you mean the CDC that predicted we’d have something like 1.5M deaths back 2 months ago? Those guys?
Jason Barnard lol, Good point!!
A point out of context, actually.
That was a worst-case scenario if no containment measures were taken and the higher risk of ‘herd immunity’ was followed, as stated by the CDC at the time. Note:
“The CDC-led effort is developing more sophisticated models showing how interventions might decrease the worst-case numbers, though their projections have not been made public.
“When people change their behavior,” said Lauren Gardner, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering who models epidemics, “those model parameters are no longer applicable,” so short-term forecasts are likely to be more accurate. “There is a lot of room for improvement if we act appropriately.”
Those actions include testing for the virus, tracing contacts, and reducing human interactions by stopping mass gatherings, working from home and curbing travel….”
Etc… context, context, context…
Of course the quantity of chlorine or humidity will have little or no effect if someone exhales into your face…….we all have to be very careful?stay safe?
I think the air around the pool might be well disinfected like the pool. This virus so far seems affected by conditions similarly to flu. Flu, as we know from scientific publications a super long time ago (in guinea pigs – that’s how long ago), it also may not be active in chlorinated humidity. Humidity is toast for flu – it was found that it just can’t stay airborne in humidity at all. This hasn’t been done for this virus. But I think the outside air might be less safe than the disinfected air at a pool. Open water, if they each start staggered at 10 meters apart it might be pretty safe too. I am mid level scientist an no expert, but this is just a bit of information to be taken as a grain of salt.
Peter Scott literally a one in a million chance. Someone has to exhale in your face, and they have to be infected. Weigh your risks.
Peter Scott stay home.. and stay safe!
Tina Evans thanks?
Doug Schack now the virus is becoming more widespread the chances will likely increase?stay safe?
Jevi Mae
I sure hope this is the case. I’ve been missing the pool. ?
I think everyone should evaluate their own risk profile and if concerned stay home until those concerns have been resolved, but IMO, no need to keep every lap pool in America closed up indefinitely-
Jennifer Shipp Graham wow! Freaking logic being applied. Thank you! Evaluate your own risk profile.
I think pools and practices should go back to normal immediately. Even in the unlikely event someone gets the virus, it has a recovery rate akin to regular flu. There was no need for all this.
Kimberly Joy Thank you!
NelsonVargas FamilyFitness
And in particularly as it pertains to USA Swimming…
According to the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#AgeAndSex)
of all COVID deaths, those between the ages of 5 and 24 make up 0.12% of them (66 / 54,861 X 100 = 0.12%).
That’s 0.12 of those who died of COVID, NOT 0.12% of ALL confirmed COVID cases.
Also keep in mind that “Confirmed COVID Cases” do not include asymptomatic or undiagnosed mild cases – which antibody tests have shown to be highly prevalent.
Therefore the overall mortality rate (number of COVID deaths / number of COVID cases X 100 = mortality rate) of those between the ages of 5 and 24 is in fact SIGNIFICANTLY less than 0.12%.
Regardless, over the same period of time the CDC chart shows that of the 6110 reported influenza deaths that 85 of those who died were between the ages of 5 and 24. So, the flu mortality rate over the same period time for those age groups is: 85 / 6110 X 100 = 1.4%
Facts before Fear.
Maybe younger persons are less likely to suffer the affects of the virus however younger persons can be excellent carriers of the virus to the older population……..since most of their parents will be in that age group and likely to have grand parents as well………just to note it is certainly not just about death but also the debilitating effects of the virus even after so called ‘recovery’…….since we are just at the start of the pandemic the full implications are certainly not clear. We all have to be very careful?stay safe?
If the water and AQ at Wakefield High School has the same effect on my lungs, hair, and skin as it does on covid19, I’m 100% comfortable swimming there.
you made me laugh!
The pools aren’t the issue, the locker rooms and bathrooms are, as well as all of the other surfaces people touch in an indoor pool…
Amy Jensen Crumpacker exactly. So many pools can barely keep up with the pee smells, god help them try to disinfect for covid. And who will do it? Smaller pools use the lifeguards to shoot down the bathrooms and decks.
Kimberly McClure Hickey yep…my son is a lifeguard and swims for his college team…
Chlorine is awesome.
Leslie Cichocki …….except during WWI.
Chlorine always wins. Why do you think it’s in bleach? Now let’s swim!!
So then for the love of all things SWIM, open the damn poooooooolsssssss! Let us make our own informed decisions.
Laura Kulp Heebner
No locker room, no problem.
Finally the powers that be realize that pools, by definition, are in constant disinfection mode.
What about sweat mucus coughing saliva spit immediately next swimmer ??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️?
Jorge Rodriguez did you worry about that before Jan 2020?
Rob Richardson no because there was not a virus spread or diluted in the water
Open the pools!
“Ernest “Chip” Blatchley III, an Environmental Engineering professor at Purdue University, says there is no data to show how the coronavirus responds to chlorine” – WHY???
There were several headlines at the begining of March about studies being initiated to investigate this, if I recall correctly one was at Harvard. So why 3 months later do we still have no data on this. There isn’t any data worldwide?? Surely it’s in the best interest of FINA and every single swimming federation for these studies to be concluded quickly for the sake of the sport and athletes?
Who’s worried about the water, more like dressing rooms, showers, lobbies etc……..contact with other people who may be capable of spreading the Covid-19 virus before they have symptoms or those who are carriers and never knew they were exposed and therefore never were tested?
Darsha Doran I guess that your version is for people that will just stay home forever? Did anyone ever worry about the spread of the flu or any other virus before Jan 2020? I know this one is worse but we can’t just shut down the world. There has to be a balance
Keep parents and grandparents out of pool! Invest in swim cam and per view from the parking lot.
Let them swim!! The physiological and psychological benefits totally outweigh the infinitesimally small risk. Being fit and happy is a great first defense against all sickness!
Laura Kulp Heebner I have been trying to toss Naomi into the pond but Sarah Schultz Nowling won’t let me…
Michael Nowling Hmmm I’ve seen that pond. Gonna have to side with Sarah ?
Duh!
Does swimming world have a stance on anything? Yesterday the author of one of their articles is bashing everyone desperate to open pools and today they’re citing experts who say pools operating is safe. Jeez. “Whatever makes you feel good, we’ve got and article for you! ALSO.. if you disagree, we’ll get the author in the comments to absolutely attack your whole life!” Worthless outlet.
Tyler. The pieces you cite neither bashed anyone nor did they do the opposite. They were news stories reflecting what experts and others were and are saying. When we have an opinion on this, we’ll give it to you in a commentary piece. I can tell you now that it won’t be ‘open all the pools and to hell with controls and constraints’.
Tennessee. Needs to know this
Well how about we ask the coaches? It’s all Fine and dandy the parents feels it’s safe for Johnny but what about the coach who takes it home to their spouse or parents. Absolutely selfish talk!
Bess Swanson they are on deck way more than 6 feet away from any swimmer. They will be closer to people going to the grocery store or Home Depot. More dangerous to drive their car to/from practice!
Still gotta have a club/ city/ willing to take on the risk. Then the coaches & lastly the athlete.
Extra chlorine
This has been common knowledge. During swimming is not the problem – the risks come from a) when swimmers are directly next to each other, breathing heavily on the wall between reps / sets, and b) all the time spent around the pool deck and not IN the pool. It’s pretty simple.
Governor JB Pritzker
For now will stick to P90x, Vasa erg, and endless pool. When they open the Y – avoid the locker room, clorox wipe for the deck spot where the gear goes, and be there right at 5:30 when they open. Get the technique work in at the pool — in and out in an hour, volume on the vasa and in the EP
Raul Villavicencio F ?
This was obvious two months ago to anyone with a background in water and wastewater treatment and disinfection. Water with chlorine in it is likely to kill the virus very quickly. The virus thrives in moist environs, like an indoor pool. Unless you can hold your breath long enough to get into the water, indoor air at a pool is a real problem. Outdoor pool not so much, I think.
So everyone else can practice except swimmers in Illinois?….that is just very sad.
Pamela Wu Missouri isn’t in either. We have been told June 15, and we are hoping that doesn’t change for the later!
Pamela Wu no practice in NJ
Jennifer Rinesmith God help us please!
Jen Mirandy Raue God help us please!
It’s not just Illinois. Add NC to the list.
Kansas is the same… list of places that can’t open: Bars, nightclubs, and pools. (But movie theaters and trampoline parks are fine. ☹️)
Pamela Wu Maryland can’t either. Let’s see, one of the wealthiest, most highly educated states in the country home to olympians and some of the best swim clubs in the nation. But we can’t safely open a pool? Got it.
NO Mich!
Pamela Wu Also pretty much every other country on the planet, if that makes you feel better.
Betsy Ann that’s why God help us please! I want everyone specially the kids stay safe and healthy, I felt really bad for them, I think I really need to look into buying a portable pool and let them “swim” in it when it’s warm enough. ?
Betsy Ann Italian pools are opening. Some kids I coached are back at it.
Ohio has the permission on May 26th, but our club has no date known at this time. So frustrating.
Michelle Davidson at least you see some light, I am sure your club just make sure they are able to follow the guidelines before sending out a start date. Hope you guys will have some good news soon!
Pamela Wu thanks, girl! I hope you do too!?
WI isn’t in either.
Pamela Wu no swim practice in MN yet. MN kids are swimming in 58 deg lakes right now.
Pamela Wu better buy it soon, the stores will run out of them.
Pamela Wu no pools open in Minnesota either
Mississippi is a no- some private gym based pools have opened, but the bigger city pools thats USA and Masters swimmers use to train have yet to reopen- no teams are practicing to my knowledge and all summer rec teams have been cancelled ???
Shannon Kelly Miller…. ?
Jenny Alexander Hennings so no spectators. Just let the swimmers compete. And officials and those running the meet wear masks?
Shannon, Unfortunately, I feel poor air circulation and over crowding is always an issue ??
Jenny Alexander Hennings no argument there.
Jenny Alexander Hennings if their is a silver lining in this I hope pool operators wake up to poor air quality. My kids have been subjected to that for 15 years.
Our school pools and most rec centers are closed in MN you are not alone. Only clubs training own there pools and most have only senior swimmers
Kira Zubar pass on to Gio!
Everything is closed up tight here in Canada.
My kid can go work at at grocery store checking out 100s of people a day but can’t swim laps. I’m sorry but this makes no sense. I’m mad that no one is fighting for these kids.
Kelly Hoffman Elliott I hear you loud and clear!!! Our LSC just put out a petition to our governer! So ridiculous!
Kelly Hoffman Elliott well said
This is what we have done to our kids. I’m not going down without a war.
Kelly Hoffman Elliott grocery stores are essential swimming is not. Trust me I want to get back in the water, but you’re making a false equation
Groceries are essential while swimming is not!? and that to you is the correct equation? People at supermarkets buy 80% rubbish. How much of that is truly essential? What is essential is to have a meal yes, but these kids are investing their own time and money to improve their health and wellbeing while being less of a burden on the health system and still paying tax like everyone else, while others sit around all day, shove the unhealthy food they buy from the super markets down their gullets, smoke and destroy their health and put themselves in the vulnerable bracket all by themselves while they point their finger at and blame healthy people for trying to keep healthy.. Sport is essential fullstop!
Kelly Hoffman Elliott I agree! My granddaughter is working in a nursing home.
Mike Tanti you’re just wrong and that’s okay lol. You can exercise at home, you can’t feed yourself if you don’t have food.
Mike Tanti not to mention many competitive swimmers are lifeguards, some are training for careers in the Coast Guard, college teams, or the Olympics. Fitness, mental health, and future aspirations are all essential.
Wendy Dollins I understand your point, but this is also a false equation. Those things are all important, but they are not essential.
Tucker Rivera the false equation is saying a virus that is significantly less dangerous than the common flu to children and young adults in the age range of competive swimmers should force them to give up their health dreams and goals because of misdirected fear. (check any stats you want, they all say the same including the CDC)
Robert Dollins it has nothing to do with swimmers getting each other sick, and everything with increasing the rate of spread
Poor Tucker. You can’t outrun this virus, you can’t hide from this virus. Healthy kids and adults need to get it while at risk populations shelter in place. Herd immunity. Science. That’s the equation.
Mike Tanti as a water polo coach, player & swimmer!
Yours is a false equivalence. 1st those kids aren’t paying taxes as you claim. 2ndly, it’s their parents that are investing the money, not the kids. I know I ran a water polo club. And out of over 500 kids through my program, only 2 kids ever paid for it themselves. Also, I’m well aware that kids and myself are waiting to get in again. I don’t know if you’re a swimmer or anything of an aquatic athlete, but I’ll tell ya… there were practices I was in and could smell the alcohol on masters water polo players… that means the breath from their air travelled across/on the water. I could smell it or if someone had bad breath. Now obviously submerged in the water no the virus probably won’t survive because of the chemicals.
But please quit crying because you or a kid can’t swim laps. It shows lack of understanding the current situation & only that you’re acting like a petulant child.
Thanks for that insight Luis.
Luis Moreno I couldn’t disagree with you more. If my kid can safely do dryland in a small group she can also safely do laps with that same group.
My kid can go work at a grocery store and be exposed to 100s of different people a day but can’t safely swim laps with the same small group of people day after day? I can teach yoga outside but my friend can’t teach water aerobics?
I work for a Dr so I thoroughly understand the situation and I think that if society is okay with an 18 year old working in a grocery store but they aren’t okay with them swimming laps for MENTAL and physical health than we need to dig deeper into why. Allowing outdoor physical exercises classes MUST include lap swimming. It’s MORE safe not less safe.
Tucker Rivera 1.2 million people drown per year as opposed to the relevantly small amount from COVID. Learning to Swim is far more important than your COViD paranoia.
Sco Bro 5.11 million have died in a matter of months from COVID. How in the world is that small compared to 1.2 million?!
Jennifer Pearson-Hardin the obvious solution is to close pools in some states but not others. And then tell kids they can’t lap swim with one another BUT it’s perfectly safe for them to exercise together in the parking lot of the outdoor pool that’s closed.
Jennifer Pearson-Hardin good job taking a worldwide death # and applying it to a local ruling to keep pools closed. Nice job of manipulating the stats to your advantage.
Kelly Hoffman Elliott I am hopeful that the enormous amount of effort put into plans by US Swimming and local departments will create environments where the risk is as minimal as possible. But I am really, really tired of people downplaying this.
In our state we are opening pools next week. They opened gyms first but not pools which didn’t make a lot of sense to me, except someone explained part of it was that lifeguards have to get so close if something happens.
But I think we can have a rational discussion about it without downplaying the devastation this virus has caused worldwide.
Jason Barnard I didn’t manipulate any numbers. If you will look, I was replying to one specific comment. He stated that worldwide, there were 1+ million drowning deaths annually which was much more than from covid. It’s simply not true.
Jennifer Pearson-Hardin I think you need to read it again. He didn’t say the 1.2M was a worldwide number and I don’t think it is.
Sorry, it’s early and my numbers are off. Their are 333k covid deaths, 5 million deaths. But there are not 1 million drowning deaths annually. There are 320k according to WHO and we have already surpassed that with COVID.
Jason Barnard 1.2 isn’t even a correct number worldwide. There are an average of 3,536 deaths from drowning in the US. We have had 95k in the us. 27 times more deaths from Covid than from drowning.
Yeesh I bet you’re “that mom” at swim meets too ?
Jessica Katherine if you’re referring to me I’ll take that as a compliment.
I’m well versed on the risks and the severity of this pandemic and have taken it extremely serious.
The point you all seem to be missing is that if some states can open, others can too. I’m teaching my kids that you should advocate and fight for things you believe in. And I believe that if Georgia can open their pools so can Maryland. I’m proud to be “that mom” and I’ll gladly back down if you or anyone else can explain why some states CAN open pools and others CANNOT.
CA is not in the water either.
Jean MacIver Follmer WA, OR and MN all are not swimming yet-unless in a lake.
Amy Lynn so unfortunate!
César Sandoval
Kids are practicing in lakes in MN, in wetsuits
?? my kid needs back in the pool.
I recognize this great pool! Boiler up!
I saw kids practicing at my club tonight. TN
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/05/20/coronavirus-does-not-spread-easily-surfaces-objects-cdc/5232748002/
Time to update the Swimming World article based on the CDC’s latest findings. Surfaces are actually NOW considered by the CDC to be, “low risk.”
Amy Lynn there have been further updates since then and we have published them – search CDC … the issues go beyond ‘water’ and ‘chlorine’ … https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/covid-19-pools-guidance-updated-by-cdc-on-healthy-environments-operations/
Teach your children that we are going thru a pandemic and that life is not always a bowl of cherries. They sooner they learn to roll with the punches, the better off they will be. Of course, everyone wants to get back in the pool. But until then, learn to do other exercises to stay in shape for physical and mental well-being.
Colleen Tessler so it’s okay in half the states to train but not the other half? And it’s okay to do yoga or cross fit outside but not water aerobics? This isn’t about rolling with the punches my friend it’s about making sound decisions which it sounds like only some states are able to do.
I think my kid who missed her senior years, prom, graduation that intends to swim D1 next year but has been out of the pool for TEN weeks so far and who knows how many more and has LOST her summer job coaching understands that life isn’t a bowl of cherries at this point but to downplay the mental well being of kids in this position is cold and callous. BTW she has knee problems and can’t run or do lower body weight hearing activities so I would love to know your thoughts on how to replace 20 hours a week of training.
I’ll just send them to another state to train. Which is what many people are planning to do.
Well right HERE- its not my KIDS that want to swim but ME- and and I’m 50 now and do realize life isn’t a bowl of cherries nor a box of chocolates, but I’m done running 30 miles a week and being shut out of facilities that have no valid reason for remaining closed while other fitness facilities are up and running-
Colleen Tessler “ teach your kids?” What? Teach? They are enduring, suffering, they will learn from this all right. Mentally, physically, socially, Addiction, and suicides are going through the roof. Let the kids swim, yes they will have a new normal, but let them have what they love and have a normal that they thrive in.
Kelly Hoffman Elliott In the exact same boat.
Kelly Hoffman Elliott love this response. Amen
Kelly Hoffman Elliott Can’t agree more. Hope your daughter is able to get in the pool soon. Enough is enough.
Kelly Hoffman Elliott ??
It’s bull….300 people at a wedding reception but a kid can’t swim laps all Bull
“a kid” (and many of them) are swimming laps out there in the world, of course, mainly in highly controlled environments that look nothing like ‘traditional pool scenario’. Safety planning can and will help to ensure that “a kid” becomes many more kids as the weeks go by – but safety planning has to be a part of that. The wedding sounds like folly, of course, unless they too had safety measures as part of the proceedings … existing studies of how COVID-19 spread show clearly why large gatherings are deeply unwise with this virus at this time.
If you are scared stay home! Open the pools
The Chinese national team is training though. Good thing the Chinese closed domestic travel within their country from Wuhan but not international travel.
They’re not alone. Training ism underway in several key European programs at the elite end, in controlled environments that make it all possible, complete with safety measures stretching to equipment, air circulation, numbers in the pool, use/no use of changing areas etc etc.
Minnesota is resuming practices June 1st, but sharing equipment is not recommended. Would a lane be considered equipment or would that just be suitsuits?