Italy Will Restart Training On May 4th with New Guidlines for Safety

Italy has been one of the world’s hardest-hit countries by the global coronavirus pandemic. The country has 195,351 confirmed coronavirus infections and 26,384 deaths caused by COVID-19.

But the light at the end of the tunnel is coming fast: Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte issued on Sunday a decree to prepare for the country’s exit from lockdown following the COVID-19 pandemic.

From May 4th, all athletes recognized as being of national interest by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) or Italian Paralympic Committee (CIP) can begin training. This applies to both professionals and amateurs. In either case, the training sessions must comply with the requirements regarding social distancing and other measures to contain the contagion.

On Monday, April 27th, the Italian Swimming Federation has published guidelines to encourage the reopening of gym and swimming pool in complete safety of facilities.

COVID-19 COMPENDIUM

Federnuoto’s compendium “Emergency Covid-19” contains all the instructions and indications of the reopening of gym and swimming pools.

First, are specified the two phases of the reopening:

  • PHASE 2A: starting from 4th May for athletes recognized as being of national interest in view of their participation in the Olympic Games or national and international events
  • PHASE  2B: In a SUCCESSIVE STEP (presumably from 18th May), facilities will be reopened for users practicing basic sports activities, even with the restrictions and limitations.

GUIDELINES FOR REOPENING REGULATIONS

In order to allow the sporting activity and training of users, the facilities must observe the following guidelines:

  • free chlorine concentrations between 0,7 and 1,5 mg/L in swimming pool water
  • Changing rooms: make available the area of 5 square meters per person
  • Gyms: 7 square meters per person
  • WATER in step 2 A: at least 10 square meters for the training of athletes recognized as being of national interest in view of their participation in the Olympic Games or national and international events, starting from May 4th;
  • WATER-STEP 2 B: at least 7 sq.m. per person for basic sports activities, presumably starting from 18th May.

The compendium also includes the criteria for cleaning, sanitation, and ventilation of the facilities that have laid empty for months, which could lead to the proliferation of other diseases like legionnaires or staph.

ACCESS TO SWIMMING POOLS

Users shall, before accessing the facilities:

  • Declare that they have not been affected by COVD-19 disease and exposed to established, probable, or suspected cases of COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
  • Have their body temperature measured (persons with a temperature equal to or higher than 37.5°C cannot access)
  • Need to keep the mask on until they enter the pool and store it in disposable bag until just before the activity in the water and to wear it again at the end.
  • The mask must also be kept on at all times by those accompanying the user (parents of children, for example).
  • Users can’t spit, urinate, or blow their nose in the water.
  • Use toilet facilities for these purposes before entering the water.

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JMIKL12
4 years ago

1 person per 7sq m..? So 2 people per 2 lanes, starting at opposite ends.? Sounds impossible for any team to actually start training. Only top level individuals prob.

Shanice
Reply to  JMIKL12
4 years ago

awsome

Steve Wierhake
4 years ago

It would be very, very hard for me not to spit or blow my nose while training in the pool. Don’t all swimmers blow their noses while swimming – especially when doing flip turns?

Participant Ribbon
4 years ago

If you had to put a number on it are you still sticking with the 12 – 18 month in self isolation?

Olympian
4 years ago

Based on what exactly?? Did you use the LCM/SCY time converter??

Xman
4 years ago

Not sure how you avoid blowing nose or spitting in the water, but everything else seems solid.

gator
4 years ago

Wait just a minute – no urination in the pool? that’s a show-stopper – no deal.

Anonymous
4 years ago

Hoaxadenic not pandemic…let free people exercise.

Swimfan2445
Reply to  Anonymous
4 years ago

Bro you can’t talk like that to indoctrinated folks of the Babylon system

Swimfan2445
Reply to  Anonymous
4 years ago

Can’t talk to Indoctrinated products of the Babylonian system

Olympian
Reply to  Anonymous
4 years ago

Swimswam’s comments section never disappoints

Justin Thompson's
Reply to  Anonymous
4 years ago

Should he use a name that nobody knows instead of a handle? If that’s how we measure bravery we should start signing these with a social media link.

william
Reply to  Anonymous
4 years ago

you are really ” anonymous” people, special me

william
Reply to  Anonymous
4 years ago

you are really ” anonymous” people whenever I saw your comment, special very ” anonymous me

About Giusy Cisale

Giusy Cisale

 GIUSY  CISALE A law graduate, and attorney for 15 years while devoting herself to running her swimming-focused blog, Scent of Chlorine. In 2015, she collaborated with Italian swimming news websites before joining SwimSwam in 2017. She loves swimming from every point of view and in 2016  became an official of the Italian …

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