Swimming pools are under pressure to abolish restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which still remain in place years later. The Telegraph has the story.
Indoor pools were forced to close during lockdown in 2020, which prompted concerns there would be a “lost generation” of young swimmers.
Since reopening, many operate under a system in which swimmers have to book timed slots to access the facilities.
Prof. Karol Sikora, a cancer specialist, has called for the removal of such systems and suggested they act as a barrier to individuals exercising.
The measures were introduced to restrict the number of people who visited the facilities in a given time period and reduce the risk of Covid transmission.
However, swimming pools and lidos across the country are still imposing these rules, several years after the pandemic.
A number of sites across London, including Parliament Hill Lido, Hampstead Ponds, London Fields, Finchley Lido and Brockwell Lido use booking systems in which swimmers can pay for slots by buying tickets online. Similar systems are used across the country.
On its site, Brockwell Lido in South London, says: “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, all sessions for the pool must be pre-booked. There are no walk-in sessions. You cannot queue up to get access like you used to.”
Prof. Sikora told the Telegraph: “Those responsible for the imposition of restrictions must now remove the last vestige three years on.”
He added: “Exercise is important for health – we need to return to the pre-Covid situation as soon as possible.
“But the minor bureaucrats that enforced the rules so quickly just don’t want to give up control.”
The number of people who swim twice a month dropped during Covid and only recovered to pre-pandemic levels in November 2023, according to data from Swim England. …
Prof. Sikora warned that without changing the systems used by pools these figures would be stagnant as new swimmers are discouraged from partaking in the activity.
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