Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:who cares about indoor pools? its summer in Virginia. People need to be able to swim outside. A kid drowned in Loudoun today. If their neighborhood pool had been open, he probably would not have been out swimming in a creek.

Good point. My own child (19) has gone to a "lake" in Fairfax County to swim. I wasn't very happy about that.

We live near London Towne ES and I have seen tween age kids wading and swimming all week in that Cub Run creek. It’s filthy. And no lifeguards of course.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the contact info, I am totally going to email her.

That's definitely appropriate. I'd say copy your delegate too.

Olivia McCormick with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) said that one of the most frequently asked questions is whether swimming pool water poses a risk for virus transmission. The Department and CDC have determined that a properly disinfected pool is not a risk. Current rules for disinfectant levels in pools still apply, as do rules for pool water testing.

VDH staff are working with stakeholders, including the Virginia Parks & Recreation Association, on guidelines for Phase II of reopening.

If you have recommendations or issues to be addressed during Phase II, please email Olivia McCormick at VDH, olivia.mccormick@vdh.virginia.gov.

Source: https://www.vml.org/enews-may-22-2020/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meanwhile in Ohio, their outdoor water parks can open on June 19th. And we’re over here wondering if we can even hang out outdoors at the pool with less than 50 people from our community. I hate this place sometimes.

Yes we just visited family in Ohio and their pools are opening Sunday. Only thing is suggesting people sit apart. Virginia sucks right now.

Yes. I know someone who coaches a year round swim club that swims in NE Ohio. They also belong to a summer club. The state is basically saying, "Follow CDC guidelines and do what you need to do".

Anonymous wrote:This really is all bullsh*t. I have already written the governor. Any chance the Fairfax county department of Heath will say differently?! They know this area and how pools are!!!

County health department can't override the VDH.

Anonymous wrote:who cares about indoor pools? its summer in Virginia. People need to be able to swim outside. A kid drowned in Loudoun today. If their neighborhood pool had been open, he probably would not have been out swimming in a creek.

Good point. My own child (19) has gone to a "lake" in Fairfax County to swim. I wasn't very happy about that.

Anonymous wrote:So I can give my child “swim instruction” and that’s exempt from the lap swimming rules?

Technically no. I have almost two pages of notes from the webinar. Ms. McCormick said they might decide to allow members of a household hold a child in structured "learn to swim" instruction, but they won't allow a parent to "teach" (she actually said she was using air quotes) a child to swim. Her reasoning was it is too difficult for a pool like a swim club to know who can contact who.

olivia.mccormick@vdh.virginia.gov

Anonymous wrote:I’m so sick of this - who do we call and complain to to get this changed? Capacity limits make the most sense - in Maryland the golfers bitched so much they finally opened the courses - moms need to rise up on this!

If you seriously want to do so, I would say contact the governor, your state delegate, and Olivia McCormick of the VDH. Many of the delegates have actually been responsive. Personally I don't think they are really understanding how pools such as private clubs can limit capacity and section off a pool for families. Even Phase 2 allows for "incidental contact between non-family members and contact between family" during athletic events, yet 10' has to be maintained in a pool and only exercise is allowed. They are concerned that a pool won't be able to determine who is allowed to be within 10' if it was allowed for families. We are also finding difficulty telling parents they can't assist a disabled child because the 10' distancing has to be maintained.

Governor: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office/

Olivia McCormick olivia.mccormick@vdh.virginia.gov

Who is your state delegate?

So I can give my child “swim instruction” and that’s exempt from the lap swimming rules?

They put people in charge of these regulations who really didn’t understand what they were doing. According to the internet, this lady’s specialty is health rules for mattresses and couches. You don’t get your best critical thinkers working as mid level stare health department staff.

Thanks for the contact info, I am totally going to email her.

When you make nonsensical rules based on what lobbyists want, people don’t feel obligated to follow the rules.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So is phase 3 open for regular pool swimming? They didn’t really change the rules at all between phase 1 and phase 2. People are allowed to self police everywhere else in the world but while in the pool surrounded by chlorine?

She said they are working on the plans for Phase 3. She was very proud of the fact that there were definite changes between 1 and 2 such as indoor pools can now open, lap swim can be 3 in a lane, and exercise classes can now take place. I don’t think they really understand that pools can manage capacity and regulate who comes in. IMO they are looking at pools as a business. She said all pools other than backyard pools are considered commercial.

I have had two families ask if an adult can assist their child with disabilities in the water while exercising. The VDH said there are no exceptions to the 10’ distance rule while in the water.

I don't understand what these 'business" pools would be...like pools at a commercial gym like Lifetime, or hotel pools? Neighborhood HOA pools or pool clubs are usually nonprofits.

She said anything other than a backyard pool. A question was submitted about HOA pools. She again said all pools, hotel, HOA, etc fall under the same category.

The "she" is Olivia McCormick with the VDH. olivia.mccormick@vdh.virginia.gov

Anonymous wrote:So, in phase 2...If our pool kept the lane sign ups, could our whole family sign up for 2 or 3 lanes and switch out who is in the lane and who is swimming?

Yes, but you most likely wouldn't need 2 or 3 lanes. You can have up to 3 people per lane. You could have one lane and switch out who is using that lane.

So, in phase 2...If our pool kept the lane sign ups, could our whole family sign up for 2 or 3 lanes and switch out who is in the lane and who is swimming?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did this crazy lady explain why swim lessons are ok? There's no way to be six feet apart when giving swim lessons.

From what I remember upthread, someone said the swim lessons lobbyists advocated hard to get swim lessons included in phase 2. Doesn’t make sense but there you go, gotta have $$ and connections to have a seat at the table.

honestly- I think this is the answer. This is part of 'commerce and trade.' They care what people like Goldfish swim school, and tom dolan swim school and kids first swim school have to say. Those places wanted to be allowed to open indoors and get an exception to allow swim instructors closer to kids. This lady had the chutzpah to say she really wanted kids to be able to learn to swim this summer. But in her head- all learning to swim takes place at an indoor 'swim school' not just learning in an outdoor pool which doesn't have 'organized' swim lessons.
That webinar made me extremely angry.