Muniru Kassim
The Ghana Swimming Association (GSA) has rolled out guidelines for reopening of swimming pools in the country following the announcement on the resumption of non-contact swimming activities by the Minister for Youth & Sports, Isaac Asiamah.
A release signed by its scribe Muniru Kassim, it stated, “The Ghana Swimming Association (GSA) wishes to inform the general public that it has come up with its guidelines for the reopening of swimming pools in Ghana as follows:
- Operators of swimming pools must eliminate use of low ventilated spaces and rooms that do not allow for social distancing
- Increase water/sanitation levels example by keeping chlorine closer to 2:00 pm
- Create visible markers on the floor to indicate appropriate spacing for pool deck, entrances, among many others.
The release added, “Screen athletes/coaches/patrons as they come in to practice or swim, record the names of the athletes/coaches/patrons, and their telephone numbers, residential addresses and temperature if they feel ill in any way, specifically listing certain symptoms and send home those athletes/coaches reporting/feeling ill or experiencing symptoms.
Symptoms to look out for:
Mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, or difficulty in breathing among others, ensure that athletes/coaches/patrons that begin to cough/sneeze for any reason must move away from others until coughing/sneezing dissipates, discourage the use of changing rooms. Athletes/coaches/patrons should shower at home and change clothes at home or in their cars), ensure that social distancing is practised within and around the facility at all times.
It also suggested to swimmers to ensure that coaches or lifeguards control the flow of athletes/patrons in and out of the facility as well as pools, ensure that there is adequate spacing in the pool during sessions.
Few swimmers should be allowed at a time, ensure adequate cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces in the training facility, limit contact points in the facility – for instance, make sure doors remain open, etc. and ensure that Veronica buckets, water, soap and tissue are placed at the entry points of the facility.
According to the release, the above-mentioned guidelines, culled from other FINA-affiliated countries and tuned to suit its own local health guidelines, are recommended by the GSA to ensure that swimmers practise in a safe environment.
It suggested that all swimming pool operators must paste these guidelines at the entrances of their facilities.