Disclaimers:
This position is current as at 4pm (AEST) on 18 March 2020.
Our position must be considered against our remit as a national peak body,
with a key focus on reducing drowning and promoting safe aquatic participation.
Royal Life Saving is closely monitoring the COVID-19 Pandemic through official sources including the Australian Government Department of Health, and State/Territory Government Departments of Health websites and advisories.
The Prime Minister has today announced a ban on non-essential gatherings of 100 or more people indoors. The Prime Minister and State Ministers have also forecast a six-month period of disruption while public health authorities work to control this disease and its impacts.
The Prime Minister and Cabinet Statement has since been published and should be read in full. The extract below includes content in relation to swimming pools. That content reads:
“Settings like gyms, indoor fitness centres and swimming pools are not required to close at this time providing they meet these requirements for social distancing and hand hygiene. Such venues should take actions to ensure regular high standards of environmental cleaning take place”
“…Social distancing and hygiene practices should include;
being able to maintain a distance of 1.5 metres between patrons.
hand hygiene products and suitable waste receptacles need to be available, with frequent cleaning and waste disposal.
The full statement can be found here https://www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures.
Some Local Government Councils have moved to close aquatic and recreation facilities, bring forward winter closures for seasonal swimming pools, others are implementing a range of approaches to achieve social distancing requirements.
For the full report from Royal Life Saving Society Australia please click here
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