While COVID-19 remains a momentous issue in Southern California, swimming pools in Los Angeles County are starting to reopen. New protocols are being put in place to ensure the safety of those looking to beat the heat during the last weeks of summer.
Last Friday, the City of Santa Clarita announced on Twitter the reopening of the Santa Clarita Park pool with a reservation-only system. Residents are required to call the aquatic center to reserve swim time with limited occupancy.
“The limit is 50% capacity. Each person that’s not within your household still needs to maintain 6-feet physical distancing. We limit it to 30 guests per reservable time slot,” said Taryn Flatt, a city official.
The City of Santa Clarita also posted instruction boards outside the pool complex, showing the guidelines guests need to follow in order to slow the spread of coronavirus. This includes using your own towels, washing your hands and covering your face if you sneeze or cough.
The city also enforces sanitization when the pool is not in use. This ensures proper cleanliness to the next group of residents who wish to use the pool.
“When one group leaves and the next group comes in, we have a buffer of time to clean and disinfect whatever area they were in prior to the next group’s arrival,” says Flatt.
Face masks are required when guests are out of the pool. This includes wearing one inside the restrooms or any other part of the facility.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health continues to provide the city with COVID-19 data to determine when pools can reopen or shut down again.
“Our safety is to our residents. That’s our priority,” said Flatt.
To reserve recreational swim time at the aquatic center, call (661)-250-3740. For recreational swim time at the Santa Clarita Park pool, call (661)-284-1470.
