Amid the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic, schools are beginning to shut down and children will be left to spend time at home with the rest of their family, now, Moms and Dads are finding ways to keep their children entertained.
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Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, everyone is forced to stay at home, and with children left with nothing much to do, parents are now scrambling to find ways to keep them entertained. One of these activities can be swimming. The question is, is it safe?
According to the Sun, experts said because of the strong chemicals like chlorine that is used to keep the water clean, public swimming pools are actually pretty safe and bug-free, not to mention, it can kill traces of the virus.
World Health Organization (WHO) recommended level 15mg.min/liter of chlorination. It said it is enough to kill all enveloped and non-enveloped viruses in the swimming pool.
Public swimming pools are safe, but in two conditions:
First, follow the simple guidelines from the Pool Water Treatment and Advisory Group of the PWTAG, and it reads: "Public health opinion is that it is generally safe to go swimming at this time. Water and the chlorine within swimming pools will help to kill the virus."
Number two, of course, the most important thing to remember before dipping in the pool is proper personal hygiene, especially when everyone in is at risk from just touching various surfaces like the changing benches, doors, and handles.
Swimmers should always keep in mind to regularly shower before and after swimming int the pool and never forget to disinfect your hands after touching door handles in the area or even when using your locker.
Another guideline from PWTAG is that visitors to swimming pools are always reminded to take all the necessary hygiene precautions when visiting all public places to help reduce the risk of infection from the coronavirus.
How to ensure safety whenever we use the public swimming pool?
Handwashing will always do the trick. Properly and thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water when you return back home. Experts also highly advise the public to wash and maintain clean swimming kits and towels by using at least a high 60-degree wash to kill any bacteria or bugs.
The Official sports body Swim England still recommends avoiding at all costs using various kinds of public pools if you feel sick or ill to reduce the spread of any disease. Though, they are still planning to continue sports events as normal.
Are public transportations also safe?
Research that was published by the Institute of Global Health has shown that people who used more than one tube line were more likely to get infected from flu-like symptoms.
The London Underground is an exceptionally hot spot for diseases as they serve about 1.2 billion passengers yearly. Commuters who take long journeys back and forth were found to be the most at risk.
Although they had begun to cut down several services with 40 tube stations on March 19, the Transport for London will still run more trains but only limited. "Business as usual," says the Network Rail with their cleaning schedules but are also making plans for extra cleans of all the stations if necessary.
Major bus parts that are touched and used regularly cush as the poles and doors will be wiped down completely with disinfectants every day.
The RDG or the Rail Delivery Group told the Sun that the United Kingdom train is monitoring all the latest Public Health England advice.
