Decatur reopened its outdoor city-owned pools this weekend, 50 days after they were to originally open. It won’t, however, be business as usual with all pools setting limits to number of swimmers and time allotted.
All outdoor pools are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday. McKoy and Ebster pools will end weekday swimming August 1 and remain open on weekends through Labor Day. Glenlake will remain open daily through Labor Day and for one final weekend Sept. 12 and 13.
The indoor pool at the Samuel L. Jones Boys & Girls Club remains closed. The outdoor pool at Legacy Park has been closed for years with no current plans to reopen.
Total occupancy: 53 people at Glenlake, 31 at Ebster and 25 at McKoy Pool with a maximum usage of two hours per person. Admission is $5 for persons older than two. Season passes (city residents only) are available at Webtrac.decaturga.com for $125 (family) and $45 (individual).
Other basic requirements: Maintain a six feet distance at all times; wear a mask while not in the pool; adult swim (where anyone 18 and under exits the pool) is 20 minutes while lifeguards wipe high-touch surfaces; patrons are responsible for bringing disinfectant to wipe pool furniture prior to use.
Decatur opened its pools one day after Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms reinstated Phase 1 reopening guidelines after a steady surge in coronavirus cases. Georgia set a series of record highs last week, with nearly 5,000 new cases of COVID-19 reported Friday (July 10), yet another record.
Nevertheless CDC guidelines state:
“There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, or water playgrounds. Additionally, proper operation of these aquatic venues and disinfection of the water (with chlorine or bromine) should inactivate the virus.”
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