Pools: Safe Against All Coronavirus Variants
June 1, 2021-
Proper water treatment and following the measures laid down by the competent authorities in hygiene matters and social distancing ensures pools are safe against all Coronavirus variants.
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The proteins embedded in the virus envelope vary in the virus mutations but the virus itself still has the same structure, so disinfectants to eliminate it continue being effective.
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Hypochlorous acid is the active ingredient responsible for disinfecting water in almost all the pools in the country as it is present both in chlorine treatments and in those that use a salt chlorinator.
The main change in the past year with regard to COVID-19 and its behavior has been the appearance of new variants, such as the well-known South African, British, Brazilian and Indian ones.
Fluidra, the global leader in the pool and wellness equipment business, has published the second edition of its White Paper, “A Properly Treated Pool is a Safe Place”, to reinforce the message that proper pool-water treatment guarantees the absence of the COVID-19 virus and is effective across all its current variants.
Available data suggests the mutations in the virus have affected the envelope-embedded proteins, known as spikes. These mutations can increase the virus’s infection capability, but this does not mean they are more resistant to disinfectants than the original virus.
“The virus structure is the same and because it is an enveloped virus it is still highly sensitive to disinfectants. This means we can confidently state that properly treated pools remain a safe place even with the new variants of the virus,” said Fluidra EMEA R&D Director David Tapias.
How to enjoy coronavirus-safe pools
Nearly all the pools in Spain, both residential and sport and/or leisure ones, use chlorine or a salt chlorinator to disinfect the water, and in both cases the active ingredient tasked with disinfection is hypochlorous acid. That is why now the summer season is coming, Fluidra wants to remind us that this active ingredient has been proven to eliminate all variants of the COVID-19 virus family.
This means that, if the right parameters are met, as well as the laws on hygiene measures and social distancing, pools are safe places to enjoy or practice sport in.
As in our daily life, we recommend maintaining good personal hygiene. Bathers should always shower before and after swimming in the pool and wash their towels and bathing suits to eliminate all bacteria and viruses.