Swimming pools, aquatic venues await gov’t’s green light to reopen

AMMAN — Aquatic venue owners, fitness centre operators and subscribers as well as industry experts are awaiting government clearance to resume work.

“Currently, what we are aiming for is to adjust our centre’s internal policies and regime to meet the unique needs faced amid the outbreak,” Neveen Ahmad, a Jordanian swimming coach, told The Jordan Times on Sunday.

Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh on Saturday announced that only hotel pools are allowed to open.

Most of Jordan’s gyms have golden memberships which give access to pools, Ahmad said.

“There is no doubt that there will be practical hygiene precautions and physical distancing guidelines, and that all sector representatives will respond adequately to keep people safe,” she said.

The swimming coach noted that many global studies and papers show the amount of chlorine in pools to be sufficient to inactivate the virus, lowering the risks of contracting COVID-19.

“We understand that the government has lifted lockdown restrictions in phases in a bid to control the spread of the virus, and all Jordanians respect that,” Salma Ali, a general manager at a fitness centre, told The Jordan Times on Sunday.

Ali added that, as nearly all sectors have reopened, many fitness and aquatic centres that “depend crucially” on revenues from pools, especially in the summer, remain “bound by the hand” until the issuance of the decision.

“This is the sector’s peak season, therefore we have to get creative and cautious amid this uncertain summer,” Ali said.