COURTNEY McCLURE, for The Standard
UXBRIDGE: Get your bathing suits and towels ready, the Uxbridge pool will be reopening next week.
The pool is reopening on March 15th. Opening up on the 15th gives the staff enough time to notify re-employed staff, train them and set-up registration. This is to ensure the pool is completely ready and open to facilitate the public. It also gives them enough time to complete their health inspection, according to Carol Clementson, Aquatic Manager at the Uxbridge pool.
When the pool officially reopens, there will be approximately 20 part-time staff members coming back on board.
The pool staff and visitors are asked to follow Covid-19 precautionary guidelines to ensure the safety of everyone who visits the pool. All staff members will be wearing a mask and/or face shields, and necessary PPE and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building.
Uxpool uses chlorine to disinfect the pool. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “proper operation and disinfection of pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds should kill the virus that causes Covid-19.” Chlorine has a long history of successfully killing viruses in the water. Staff will also be regularly santizing frequently touched surfaces such as handrails. Remember to continue to maintain social distancing even in the water.
People wishing to enter the pool with their family or by themselves will be required to wear a mask, as well, but won’t have to wear a mask while in the water. The CDC recommends you do not wear a mask in the water as it could obstruct your breathing.
Pool users are asked to put their bathing suit on at home before coming to the pool. Change rooms will be available after the swimming session to change in and out of wet clothes.
Aquafit, lane swimming, as well as other programs, will be available starting on the official opening day. Registration for these programs opens up on Monday, March 8th, and patrons will only be able to register seven days before the start of the program. Leadership programs are in the planning stages as well.
Swimming lessons are scheduled to start on April 6th and registration for lessons opens up on March 15th. Public swimming will not return until Durham Region has entered the Orange Zone of the Covid-19 reopening framework.
According to Ms. Clementson, many Uxbridge residents rely on the pool and their programs for exercise. “I feel the community will be glad the pool is re-opening,” said Ms. Clementson. Swimming and participating in swimming programs helps physical and mental health. “We have seen the benefits, when we opened last fall. I think we will see the benefits again this spring.”