New rules for beach occupancy and use apply to outdoor swimming pools. A decree-law published in the Official Gazette sets out the rules to be followed.
Swimming in the sea, swimming pools, river beaches, and rivers began even before the start of the bathing season in Portugal on June 6, 2020. But this year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, swimming will have to be done with care and caution, following the various recommendations of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS). The new rules for beach occupancy and use also apply to outdoor swimming pools, so it is worth remembering the rules that must be followed during the easing of lockdown.
Outdoor swimming pools will be subject, “with the necessary adaptations,” to the rules for occupation and use of beaches during the bathing season, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Decree-Law No. 24/2020 published in the Diário da República.
“The special rules to be adopted regarding the occupation and use of outdoor swimming pools, as well as regarding the guarantee of water quality, health, and safety of the facilities, are approved, within a maximum period of seven days from the date of publication of this decree-law, by order of the members of the Government responsible for the areas of economy, local authorities, and health, considering the guidelines of the DGS,” the decree states.
Rules for going to the beach or pool in 2020
- Users of beaches and outdoor pools must ensure a physical distance of 1.5 meters between different groups and a distance of three meters between parasols, awnings, or straw hats;
- In addition to “safe physical distancing between users when accessing and using the beach and when bathing in the sea or river,” citizens must comply with respiratory etiquette measures and wash their hands frequently, as well as “avoid accessing areas identified as being heavily occupied or at full capacity.”
- Circulation corridors may be defined, parallel and perpendicular to the coastline or shore, according to the available area and the conditions of each beach, in order to discourage random circulation in occupied areas;
- Definition of a direction of circulation at access points, whereby, if there is more than one entrance, one location should be defined for entry and another for exit. When circulating in these spaces, a safe physical distance of one and a half meters between users must be maintained;
- In this case, beaches must have “traffic light-type signage,” where green indicates low occupancy (1/3), yellow indicates high occupancy (2/3), and red indicates full occupancy (3/3);
- Information on beach occupancy will be “continuously updated in real time,” specifically on the InfoPraia app and on the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) website.
- Bars, restaurants, and terraces must reorganize their spaces to ensure social distancing, and they must be regularly sanitized at least four times a day.
Recommendations for safe holidays and swimming.
Source: idealistanews