News

Kannewischer has devised a protection plan specifying the measures required at its thermal spas when they are re-opened after the coronavirus lockdown. The protection plan covers the protection of employees and users in the various areas of the spas (entrance, spa, sauna, food & drink, wellness and physiotherapy, and fitness).

The national sporting authority in Austria has compiled general information on how to practise sport during COVID-19. When restarting training for minors (under the age of 14), a group size of up to six people is recommended.

Sports activities may only take place in small groups of a maximum of 5 persons, without physical contact and in compliance with the rules of hygiene and social distancing. The respective sports federations have developed their own specific hygiene regulations and detailed protection plans.

A timely tool of minimum baseline of standards, for ‘how’ reintroduction of sport activity will occur in a cautious and methodical manner, based on the best available evidence to optimise athlete and community safety. The principles apply equally to high performance/professional level, community competitive and individual passive (non-contact) sport.

In its statement as of 12 March the German Federal Environment Agency declares, that in general, direct transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via swimming and bathing water is highly unlikely. Filtration and disinfection are effective methods for inactivating imported bacteria and viruses.

Related to practising sports, the Irish Government has drawn up a roadmap for modifying restrictions stretching from individual exercise to sports spectating with limited numbers and separation.

How can outdoor sports facilities be re-opened for physical activities? IAKS Germany has drafted recommendations for the use of outdoor sports facilities to ease their re-opening process.

When can pools expect to be re-opened? This question is of existential importance for operators – in most cases municipalities or municipal enterprises. IAKS Germany suggests a phased plan for the reopening of swimming pools, comprising three phases: During widespread social distancing – Easing of regulations – Full-scale operation.

The European Waterpark Association (EWA) calls for a standardised regulations procedure for the re-opening of waterparks and spas to be put in place and made available to people as soon as possible. To achieve this, it has drawn up the following two-stage phase re-opening plan that it recommends governments and authorities to carry out. In addition, a checklist for pool operators has been compiled to systematically prepare the re-opening.

The strategy of the Association of Indoor and Outdoor Swimming Pools (VHF) in Switzerland aims to show how indoor and outdoor swimming pools can prepare themselves to ensure an orderly and phased return to initially protected bathing after facility re-opening.

The German Swimming Pool Association (DGfdB) has drawn up guidelines for the operation of pools in a waning pandemic. Its aim is to outline a procedure for the phased re-opening of public indoor swimming pools and the opening of outdoor pools. The main focus is on the organisation of pool operation.