Public pools look to reopen with limitations; Sumter Aquatics Center now open

All our coronavirus coverage is free to the public. It’s the right thing to do as a public service to our community. If you find this article helpful or informative and want to support our continued coverage, please subscribe or support us with a tax-deductible donation.

To find all our coronavirus coverage, including helpful local resources and website links, click here.

Memorial Day weekend usually is the beginning of summer fun that is signified by most public pools across the country beginning to reopen to the community.

However, the pandemic caused many community pool operators to hesitate about reopening their facilities to the public, finding it difficult to enforce social distancing guidelines.

According to The Associated Press, pools that do plan to open will take precautions including screening temperatures on entry, watching for signs of COVID-19 symptoms, requiring lifeguards to wear masks and reducing the number of swimmers in the water and facility.

While some community pools plan to remain closed for the time being, Sumter's pools decided to open while following CDC-recommended guidelines, allowing Sumterites to have their fun in the sun.

Susan Wild, recreation programs and facilities director for the City of Sumter, said the Aquatics Center made changes to its operations so it could provide community members with an out-of-the-house activity.

"We had to go through a lot of training with our guards because it did change quite a bit," Wild said. "The system we have in place right now is working."

Following CDC-recommended guidelines, the facility can only work on 20% capacity, according to Wild. The Aquatics Center has a capacity limit of 62 patrons at a time on a first-come, first-served basis, and there will be a waiting list available if capacity is reached.

The Aquatics Center now requires all customers to shower at the facility before entering the pool, and they must follow the 6-feet-apart rule in and out of the water.

According to Wild, the number of lifeguard stations was increased from five to nine so the staff can watch for swimmers' safety in the water and to enforce social distancing.

"We've made it a system," Wild said. "To incorporate a little more detail, and it's a part of our normal system now."

With this past weekend being the first swim of the season, Wild said the opening was a success.

"We had a really good weekend," Wild said. "We're really making sure that our citizens feel safe when they come out and hope that they continue to have a good experience when they come to the Aquatic Center. As long as we follow guidelines as stated through the CDC, then they should feel comfortable being at the pool."

According to AP, properly chlorinated pools can kill the virus, reducing the chances of it spreading, and Wild said she has been keeping that in mind.

John Hoffman, CEO of the Sumter Family YMCA, is doing the same as the YMCA plans to open its pool June 1 with social distancing guidelines in place.

According to Hoffman, only swimming in the lap pool will be available, and members can reserve lanes ahead of time for an hour to reduce the amount of swimmers in a pool.

Kelley Torres, aquatics director for the YMCA, said having open swim available is in the works, as staff continues to create more guidelines to ensure the safety of swimmers.

"In regards to open swim, our main concern for that would be the interaction in regards to patrons being in each other's space, so that's why we're leaning towards the reservation system at first, especially with social distancing guidelines in place," Torres said. "We're just trying to make sure all of our members and participants are safe."