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Is it safe to go swim in public pools during the COVID-19 outbreak? How about lakes, rivers, and oceans?
There are few better ways to stay in shape or beat the heat than swimming. But fears about COVID-19 have scared many people off because of the risk of exposure to the virus in the water plus fears of the inevitable crowds.
In fact, infectious disease experts say that swimming, in itself, is low risk. What people have to be careful about is what happens outside the water: the socializing with friends, sharing of towels, and using locker rooms.
To state the obvious: When outside of the water and near others, it’s important to wear a mask. But people shouldn’t wear them while swimming, because, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention blandly notes, “Masks can be difficult to breathe through when they’re wet.”
Here’s what you need to know about swimming during the coronavirus era:
Is swimming in public pools safe?
Because most well-maintained public pools contain chlorine and salt, the chances of contacting the …