Outdoor pool season during the corona pandemic? City of Bonn gives a glimmer of hope for the summer

Bonn · A summer without outdoor pools? Bonn's city administration now considers it possible to open the outdoor swimming pools under certain conditions despite the corona pandemic.

 There is no certainty that the Römerbad outdoor pool will open this summer.

There is no certainty that the Römerbad outdoor pool will open this summer.

Foto: Benjamin Westhoff

A summer without outdoor pools? As things stand right now, that is exactly what the people of Bonn are facing. The announcement that the outdoor swimming season would be cancelled due to the corona pandemic has triggered reactions, as could be expected. Meanwhile, the city is standing by its decision, but apparently sees room for a little leeway.

The administration justified its decision to cancel the outdoor swimming pool season based on the nationwide ban on major events until August 31. Since mid-March, the state of NRW has characterized major events as those with at least 1,000 visitors. The Römerbad outdoor pool, for example, hosts around 6,000 guests on hot days, according to the administration. Criticism has been leveled at the city because the step it has taken in cancelling the season even prevents outdoor pools for opening up for under 1,000 visitors.

The Links (Left) political fraction accuses Lord Mayor Ashok Sridharan of going it alone. It has submitted an urgent motion for the next meeting of the main committee. "We want to get the administration to draw up and examine concepts that might allow a limited opening of the outdoor swimming pools while maintaining protection against infection," explains Michael Faber. Meanwhile, Birgit Schneider-Bönninger, head of the Department of Sport and Culture, makes it clear that the decision is less restrictive than some people have interpreted it up to now: "We are now hoping for quick and clear signals from federal and state politicians with regard to the outdoor pool season," she says. But for now, the city is assuming that the pools "may not open for the time being”.

Should the situation become more conducive to some sort of opening, Schneider-Bönninger says the sports administration will, on the basis of the legal requirements, "develop scenarios in order to be able to start operating the outdoor pools or alternatively the indoor pools, taking into account a lead time". The "Pandemic Pool Plan" of the German Swimming Association (see box "Pandemic Plan"), which presents scenarios for resuming operations, offers guidance.

The sponsoring associations of the outdoor swimming pools in Friesdorf and Rüngsdorf and the Melbbad also point to this concept. Just before the city administration made its decision about the outdoor pool season, they had written to the Lord Mayor, asking him not to put a stop to the preparations for the outdoor pool season. They also offered their help. For those reasons, the clubs regret the decision, even though safety comes first. They want to lobby for the opening of the pools, should there be further easing of restrictions.

"Whether there will be alternatives to outdoor pools, we cannot predict", says Carolin Krause, head of the city Social Services Department, and adds: "Everyone who has a yard is privileged. I am worried about the many children and families in cramped living conditions. We will have to come up with something for these families”.

Bernd Seibert, Managing Director of the sports association Stadtsportbund (SSB), brings up another issue: "I very much hope that people in Bonn will not become unreasonable or reckless now and look for freely accessible waters or even the Rhine as an alternative opportunity for swimming," he says with an eye to the dangers of a canceled pool season.

Opening indoor swimming pools - but not outdoor pools - was explained by the city in terms the difference in the number of visitors: Taking personnel requirements into consideration, it says that distancing rules, hygienic measures and restrictions on access are easier to implement in indoor pools. Orig. text: Rüdiger Franz Translation: Carol Kloeppel

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