The World Has Changed, But Our Commitment Has Not.
Covid-19 is impacting us all in various ways. Many businesses are closed down, people are working from home and communities are trying to understand how to continue to operate during this difficult time. Safety and concern of community association residents remain our greatest priority.
Along with moving our meetings to tele/video-conference and conducting solo community inspections, we are advising our clients to implement the following measures to help "slow the spread" in their community:
• Closing various amenities, including gyms, clubhouses, community rooms and similar areas.
Updated 6/8/20: Public Swimming Pool Operations During COVID-19 Guidance
For swimming pool facilities to safely reopen on 6/13/20, and maintain social distancing and operational best practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, utilize the following guidance:
Disinfection Plan and Oversight
• Complete and post the County of San Diego’s required Safe Reopening Plan (Plan). In the Plan, describe how the measures in this guidance document will be met. The plan must be posted onsite at the facility, it does not need to be submitted to the County.
• Designate a person to be responsible for evaluating and implementing the measures in the Plan and in this guidance document. Determine who will ensure that the measures are being followed.
For an HOA, the designated person responsible for the pool/pool area is typically the HOA Manager or an HOA board member.
• Designate a person to be responsible for monitoring the restroom or changing rooms to ensure that the facilities are stocked with soap, paper towels, and has running water.
• Increase the frequency of restroom and changing room cleaning and disinfection based on the volume of pool/pool area use.
• Restrooms and showers must remain open to allow access by pool/pool area users and should be frequently disinfected.
Disinfection Requirements
• Frequently disinfect common touch points, such as chairs, tables, entry/exit gate and door handles, pool and spa handrails, restroom facilities, shower water faucet handles, changing room benches and lockers, pool kickboards and floatation devices, slides, structures for climbing or playing, and any other common touch points, using a disinfectant that is EPA approved and effective against Coronavirus. If pool facilities are in continuous use, hourly disinfection is recommended. For less frequently used pool facilities, disinfection between users is recommended.
• At locations with no onsite person to monitor disinfection efforts, provide disinfection wipes that the pool/pool area users can use to disinfect common touchpoints before and after use.
Limit Users
• Ensure proper social distancing is maintained by all pool and spa users that are not part of the same household. Limit the number of persons on the pool deck and in the pool/spa to ensure six feet of social distancing is always maintained.
• Changing rooms and restrooms should be monitored to ensure that the number of people inside at one time allows for proper social distancing. Changing rooms (not restrooms) may need to be closed or have limited access to achieve proper social distancing.
• For locations that do not have an onsite person designated to monitor the pool/pool area users (such as HOA/apartments/condominium pools), a system should be in place to help ensure the number of persons in the pool area does not exceed the gathering limitation (ex. reservation system, sign-up board, or signage with new limited capacity).
Social Distancing
• All chairs and tables must be set up to maintain 6 foot social distancing. Remove, store, or label unused tables and chairs to prevent use. Each facility must ensure that the spacing of the chairs and tables still provides a clear deck space of 4 feet around the pool and/or spa, as required by State law.
General Requirements
• Facilities may allow the use of spray grounds and water features, if proper social distancing can be maintained by all users that are not part of the same household. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or monitored, then these features should be prohibited from use.
• Use of indoor pools and spas can be used if indoor ventilation systems are operating properly. In addition to the ventilation system, increasing the introduction and circulation of outdoor air by opening windows and doors is recommended as long as this does not pose a safety risk to children, staff, or pool/pool area users.
• Drinking fountains should be covered to prevent usage. Individuals can bring their own water in a non-glass container if beverages are allowed in pool/spa area.
• Limit spa use to one household at a time or ensure social distancing of 6 feet is met.
• When feasible, it is recommended that swim instructors teach from the pool deck. For those classes that require face-to-face or close contact, use a parent or member of the same household to be in the water with the child or have the swim instructor wear a face covering. Participants of group swimming lessons and spectators on the pool deck should always maintain social distancing of six feet.
Resources Information regarding COVID-19: www.coronavirus-sd.com.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Swimming Pool Guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/parks-rec/aquatic-venues.html.
For questions regarding public swimming pool operations, please contact DEH at (858) 505-6900 or via email at fhdutyeh@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Updated 6/1/2020: Community amenities are still closed per public health order and should not be reopened until announced by the State of California. It is our understanding these may be part of the "Stage 3 Reopening" and will have to comply with restrictions set within that reopening. Please continue to check back as we will update this page as more information becomes available.
• Requiring residents and guests to “stand back” a respectful distance from staff and concierges.
• Limiting in-person access to site staff and other association personnel that includes limiting repair work to “essential only,” to minimize contractor traffic, as well as entry by other service providers.
• Enhancing cleaning of surfaces (from elevator buttons to handrails), multiple times per day.
• Placing hand sanitizer and wipes throughout the buildings and other association facilities, to the extent supplies are available.
• Encouraging residents to limit guests as much as possible, particularly those with symptoms.
• Asking that residents disclose if they are in quarantine or test positive, so the association can consider whether additional mitigation measures need to be implemented to ensure a successful quarantine.