Coronavirus: Can B.C. condo buildings reopen their pools?

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Question:

Beverly: “We have an indoor pool in our condo building. What are the rules for reopening these facilities? Is it up to the individual strata council to decide, or is there a guide I can put forward to lobby for reopening?”

Answer:

The B.C. government considers a pool in a strata complex with four or more units to be a public facility, making it subject to the same regulations as a recreation centre.

If a strata wants to reopen a pool closed during the pandemic, it will need to adhere to new guidelines meant to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, including increased cleaning, physical distancing rules, and keeping track of users.

Vancouver Coastal Health recommends keeping a sign at the entrance to a pool stating the maximum capacity, with a sign-up sheet “so patrons can self-regulate.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, “there is no evidence that COVID-19 can spread to people through the water used in pools, hot tubs, or water playgrounds.”

Proper cleaning of facilities should kill the coronavirus, according to the CDC.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control has released a list of measures it recommends recreation centres take to keep people safe, including increased cleaning, providing more space for people, supporting low-contact sports, stocking bathrooms with soap and screening both staff and guests for symptoms of COVID-19.

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