CDC offers guidance for going to the pool during the pandemic

If you are planning to head to the pool this summer, you will need to bring your swimsuit, towel and a face mask.

That is the latest recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control, as families here and around the country look forward to warmer days.

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Health officials said there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread through pool water. Still, the CDC said it is important for people to keep up with safety precautions in any public area, so they have laid out recommendations for your family.

The CDC encourages pool users and staff to wear face masks whenever they are outside of the water. Of course, swimmers should not be wearing them inside the pool, as they are hard to breathe through when wet.

You should be avoiding group gatherings in and out of the water, and practicing physical distancing when you can.

The CDC said lifeguards should not be enforcing these precautions, but should be focused on water safety while other staff members take on these roles.

Health officials said pool staff should do everything they can to make sure people are taking precautions. They should put up more signage, physical distancing visual cues and rearrange pool furniture.

These recommendations come just a few days before Memorial Day weekend, when many outdoor pools typically open for the summer season.

Several states have already started reopening their public and private pools – like Georgia and Florida. Closer to home in North Idaho, the Mullan Pool announced it plans to reopen on June 1.

READ: Spokane will ‘likely’ be ready for phase 2 by Memorial Day weekend, Mayor Woodward says

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