More than 20 water safety and competitive water sports organizations have come together to launch the Aquatics Coalition “to help guide states and municipalities across the country in reopening swimming facilities for instructional aquatics in the safest possible manner,” USA Swimming announced Wednesday.
Comprised of organizations including learn-to-swim programs, health and rehabilitation groups, and competitive aquatics organizations, the Coalition is advocating for the safe reopening of facilities for “purpose-driven” aquatics amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the announcement. Purpose-driven activities include swim lessons, exercise, rehabilitation and athletic training.
Based on guidance from the CDC and “other health experts,” the Coalition has developed best practices around the knowledge that chlorine and bromine inactivate COVID-19, and that there is not yet evidence the virus can be spread through pools.
The guidelines have been shared with the National Governors Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and the National Association of County and City Health Officials, according to the announcement.
The following organizations are involved, per the coalition’s website:
- American Swimming Coaches Association
- USA Artistic Swimming
- USA Diving
- National Drowning Prevention Alliance
- U.S. Masters Swimming
- USA Triathlon
- United States Swim School Association
- Starfish Aquatics Institue
- Aquatic Exercise Association
- Goldfish Swim School
- Total Aquatic Programming
- Streamline Brands
- Wavemakers
- Counsilman-Hunsaker
- The ZAC Foundation
- USA Swimming
- American Red Cross
- Neptune-Benson
- British Swim School
- The YMCA
- Pool & Hot Tub Alliance
Last month, a group of six organizations (some that are also listed above), Olympians and coaches billed as the “Aquatic Professionals Alliance” signed a letter presented to the White House with a similar goal to that of the new Aquatics Coalition. USA Swimming, however, was not among the organizations involved with that effort.