With the arrival of good weather, many people are starting to count down the days to their first dip of the year. Just like last summer, you can enjoy your community pools again this year. Of course, observing the anti-Covid rules. At Mediterráneo, we clarify the requirements that must be met by community pools in order to open in summer 2021, according to the information available for each autonomous community published in the Official State Gazette. Take note.
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Rules for swimming pools in the Autonomous Community of Madrid
The Ministry of Health has published Order 572/2021 of May 7 in the BOCM (Community of Madrid Official Gazette), which establishes preventive measure to tackle the health crisis caused by Covid-19. You can read it here.
Maximum number allowed, 60% of their capacity
The new regulations establish that recreational swimming pools, both outdoor and indoor, must respect the limit of 60% of their full capacity, both in relation to access and during the activity itself.
Health and preventive measure in pools for community use
- Use of masks
The use of masks will be obligatory both when entering and leaving the pool and moving around in the facilities. Masks will not have to be worn when staying in one place, without moving, which must be an area of at least 3 square metres, or when swimming.
- Lifeguards for developments with over 30 properties
On the other hand pools located in developments with over 30 properties must have a lifeguard.
- Signage
In relaxation areas of pools, the area will be arranged to ensure safe social distancing is maintained between the different groups of users, using signs on the floor or similar markings. All personal items, like towels, must be kept within the established area, and avoid contact with other users.
- Cleaning
Naturally, the facilities must be disinfected regularly, using disinfectants such as 1:50 dilutions of bleach, freshly prepared or any of the disinfectants with virucidal activity that are available on the market and properly authorised and registered.
Here is a poster summarising the most important measures.
Rules for swimming pools in the Autonomous Community of Valencia
You can consult the preventive measures published in the Official State Gazette here.
- Maximum number allowed, 75% of their capacity
The maximum number allowed is 75% of their capacity. Ordinary capacity means 4 m² of water per person.
- Showers and changing rooms can also be used at 50% of their capacity.
- Control of maximum number
Access systems will be put in place which will avoid concentrations of people and which will comply with the safety and health protection measures.
Health and preventive measure in pools for community use
- Cleaning
The facilities must be cleaned and disinfected before the pool is opened each day, paying particular attention to enclosed areas like changing rooms and toilets.
If any recreational or sports items are used in the pools, like floats, inflatables or similar items, they must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, ensuring that no transmission is possible between users.
- Safe distance
Just like last year the safe distance of 1.5 metres remains applicable.
- Use of masks
It will be obligatory to wear a mask when entering, leaving and moving around in the pool facilities.
Check the poster of Valencia rules here.
Rules for swimming pools in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia
The Department of Health of the Regional Government of Andalusia has published the preventive measures that will have to be implemented by swimming pools this year in the Official State Gazette (BOJA), of May 7. You can consult it here.
Article 11 contains the health and preventive measure in pools for community use. These preventive measures in swimming pools vary depending on the level of alert (from level 1 to level 4) applicable in the community of Andalusia and which will be established by the Regional Government.
Levels and maximum capacity
- At alert level 1 the maximum number allowed in community pools will be 100% of the normal permitted capacity for both indoor and outdoor pools.
- At alert level 2, the maximum number allowed will still be 100% in outdoor pools but will be restricted to 75% in indoor pools.
- At alert level 3, the maximum number allowed will be 75% in outdoor pools and 50% for indoor pools.
- At alert level 4, the maximum number allowed will be 50% in outdoor pools and 30% in indoor pools.
Health and preventive measure in pools for community use
- Cleaning and disinfection
The facilities must be cleaned and disinfected before the pool is opened each day, paying particular attention to enclosed areas like changing rooms and toilets.
- Safe distance of 1.5 metres
The measures needed to maintain social distancing of 1.5 metres must be put into place.
- Signage
In relaxation areas of pools the area will be arranged to ensure safe social distancing is maintained between the different groups of users, using signs on the floor or similar markings.
- Personal items
All personal items, like towels, must be kept within the established area, and avoid contact with other users. Access systems will be put in place which will avoid concentrations of people and which will comply with the safety and health protection measures.
Check out the poster of Andalusia rules here.
Rules for swimming pools in the Region of Murcia
The rules for opening pools are regulated in Royal Decree 21/2021 of June 9, and in Royal Decree 742/2013 of September 27. You can consult it here.
- Maximum number allowed, 75% of their capacity
The maximum number allowed for community pools is 75% of their usual capacity. The number of people allowed in the pool will be established for each pool to ensure an area of 2.25 m2 per person. Users must be informed on a poster of the maximum number of people that are allowed to be in the pool at the same time.
The use of umbrellas, loungers, hammocks, chairs and towels laid on the floor will be permitted. In all cases the safe distance of 1.5 metres must be maintained except for groups of people who live together.
Health and preventive measure in pools for community use
- Mask
The use of masks will be obligatory, both when entering and leaving the pool and moving around in the facilities.
- Safe distance
The safe distance of 1.5 metres between users must be maintained. If this is not possible, a mask must be worn in communal areas and the entrance and exit to the facilities.
- Cleaning and disinfection
As a general rule, all the facilities that form part of the pool and that may be in contact with the users, such as the bathing area, walkways, toilets, changing rooms, shower area, lockers and first aid area, must be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a day, and this frequency may be increased.
If any recreational or sports items are used in the pools, like floats, inflatables or similar items, they must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, ensuring that no transmission is possible between users.
- Communal showers
If the pool has communal showers, every second shower will be made available, in order to ensure that social distancing is observed. This measure will not apply for individual showers.
Check out the poster of Murcia rules here.
It is an important moral responsibility to prevent spread of the infection by putting in place appropriate measures to avoid spreading and catching the disease.
All users and employees at the facilities are responsible for complying with the social distancing measures and any other measures that are recommended.
Each community must consult their Mediterráneo property administrator about the best way of implementing the opening of their pools in order to comply with all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of the whole community.
We wish to emphasise the need for each person to assess their own state of health, and if they are experiencing symptoms such as a high temperature or dry cough the best preventive measure is to stay at home and monitor how their symptoms progress.