5 TIPS FOR THROWING A POOL PARTY

In a normal summer, having friends over for a swim is one of the easy joys for people fortunate enough to have a backyard pool. Now, it can feel fraught, even as water lovers everywhere are desperate for aquatic relief with the closure of many public pools. But experts say it is possible to share your oasis safely.

The consensus among infectious-disease experts is that pool water is not inherently risky, especially when the water is treated properly with chlorine or bromine and maintenance is kept up. Health authorities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and epidemiologists all agree that it’s the humans around the pool who pose the biggest threat.

“If the families sharing an outdoor pool aren’t congregating together for long periods of time in and around the pool, it’s probably quite safe,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. “Adults swimming laps while distanced from each other is probably quite safe.”

In general, a backyard pool is probably safer than a public beach, pool or water park, all places where it is harder to control for density and exposure.

Tips for sharing your pool:

1. Keep it clean.

Ensure that pool maintenance is up to date and chemical levels in the pool are correct. USA Swimming, the national governing body for the sport, recommends increasing the water sanitation level to a higher concentration of chlorine, within the normal range — closer to 2.0 parts per million — because of COVID-19.

2. Have guests come prepared.

Have your guests bring their own towels and change into swimsuits at home before coming over. This way, you minimize contact, and your guests do not need to come into the house. Leave a side gate open for them to reach your backyard, so they don’t have to touch anything en route. Have your guests bring their own food and drink, and pack out their containers and disposables when they are finished.

3. Stay in your own space.

Designate a separate zone for your guests to sit and stow their items during their visit. Children should have their own picnic blankets or towels to return to when not in the water. Grown-ups, when not distantly socializing in the pool, should have dedicated chairs. No switching. Do not share equipment — that includes pool floats, kickboards, balls and toys.

Alternate pool time between households. That’s safest according to Rasmussen. But if the pool is big enough to maintain at least 6 feet of distance while swimming, you can designate half the pool for the“home team”and the other half for the“visiting team.” Make signs and keep it fun, but keep teams separate. Swimmers should stick to their own team’s side, using that side exclusively to enter, exit and pause between laps.

4. No loitering.

Keep the visiting period limited to the swimming itself. And stick to an hour or so, not least because this minimizes the need for bathroom breaks. But if you do want to socialize, normal distancing rules apply. Wear masks when you’re not in the water.

5. Clean up afterward.

After your guests leave, disinfect surfaces like chairs or tables. And recheck the chemical levels in your pool to confirm that they are still within the correct range. Then pat yourself on the back for being a good neighbor.