Officials stress safety measures for boaters during COVID-19 outbreak
This weekend’s good weather and loosening of stay-home orders will likely draw more people out of their homes for the first time in weeks, with some heading to local waterways.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is reminding boaters of COVID-19 safety practices when on the water.
“It’s an unusual time in our history, boating practices have to be slightly different,” TWRA spokeswoman Mime Barnes said Friday. “What we’ve encouraged is to follow guidelines put forward that folks practice social distancing, and we hope they continue to enjoy the outdoors.”
The National Weather Service is calling for clear skies and light winds Saturday and Sunday with temperatures in the mid-70s to low 80s. COVID-19 restrictions opened up this week, allowing retailers and non-essential businesses to reopen under less stringent guidelines to get the economy going again.
On the water, COVID-19 precautions are unlike the regular safety precautions boaters are reminded of every year.
TWRA recommends that boaters only have “immediate household” onboard and have no “guests or outside-of-household” family in their boats, according to a statement issued Thursday.
Boaters should stick to waterways that are close to home and drive straight to local boat ramps and access points, officials said. While many Tennessee Valley Authority boat ramps have been closed for the pandemic, TWRA’s boat ramps, while fewer, have not closed and most managed areas have remained open, Barnes noted.
When fueling up at fuel docks or gas stations, TWRA recommends hand washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer, and to avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unsanitary hands.
Also, don’t beach or raft with other boats, and anyone who has been diagnosed with or is exhibiting coronavirus symptoms should not leave home at all, even to participate in outdoor recreation, the TWRA said.
Barnes said the numbers of people enjoying the outdoors, hiking, hunting and fishing have not been lessened by the pandemic, possibly because those are among the few things people have been able to do under stay-home orders. TWRA officers aren’t “enforcing” social distancing rules but do “strongly recommend” them, she said.
“We just say please follow those social distancing guidelines and enjoy your time on the water,” Barnes said.
The other major water body in the Chattanooga region is the Tennessee River’s Guntersville Reservoir in Jackson County, Alabama, where Gov. Kay Ivey’s stay-home COVID-19 order was loosened starting Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
Alabama’s social distancing recommendations for boaters are about the same as Tennessee’s, according to Chad Tate, district commander for the northern district of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s marine police division.
“We’re recommending the social distancing guidelines Gov. Ivey put out,” Tate said. “No more than 10 people gathering in one place, maintaining 6-foot social distancing to mitigate the spread.”
Like Barnes, Tate said the numbers of people enjoying the outdoors in Alabama haven’t declined.
“The level is normal or above in most places, so we’re actually seeing more an increase in some places,” he said. “Outdoor activities were not shut down as long as you maintained the distancing. And clearly, on a boat it’s going to be tough to maintain 6 feet, but we’re kind of looking at it as a household-type thing.”
Tate said Alabama boaters would do well to follow Tennessee’s guideline for only having members of the immediate household onboard.
The two states “sound like they’re very similar” in their approaches, Tate said.