Pool

July 2, 2020
The pool

To the residents of Tanglewood Shores Golf and Country Club.  In line with Phase 3 of the Pandemic we are now planning on opening the pool this weekend on Saturday, July 4^th from 12:00 until 6:00.

The guidelines from the state are attached. The following are additional Tanglewood rules.

• Anyone that paid a membership to the pool will be refunded their money.
• Any Property Owners and Associate Members that come to the pool will pay $5.00 to enter.
• You will enter the pool through the club house. The only door that is open is the one to the side of the building to the Pro Shop.
• You will sign in and you must answer the health questions that State of Virginia requires. All people entering the pool must answer them. We will do our best to be as confidential as we can. We will not take names.
• Once you enter the pool you will leave through the side gate and not reenter the clubhouse.
• The bathroom that is located at the pool will be available and will be sanitized regularly.
• Each person or family group will have a section that will be yours to occupy while you are there. You will not be able to visit anyone that is not part of your group.
• Only your immediate family members will be allowed to be your guests. It is a holiday weekend and I know you will have visitors.
• We are allowed 75% of the total occupancy in the pool. While in the pool you must maintain 10 feet of distance between each other.  So that means 21 people can be in the pool at a time.  We figured that out today.  We have enough deck space to hold more people than that.  But only 21 in the pool at a time.  A family group can sit together in the space provided and individuals will be in their space by themselves. This is going to be an ongoing learning process.
• You may bring your chairs to sit in or lay in. We will have no furniture. You may bring drinks and food with you. 
• We will let you free swim for 30 minutes and then have you come out so that others that want to can get in the water. If no one wants in, then you can continue.
• Parents it will be up to you to help keep your children away from anyone that isn’t a family member.
• We will have someone there to monitor and help.
• No rafts, noodles, toys will be allowed in the pool.
• Children that wear diapers must have the diapers made for swimming.
• Small children can wear their water wings and rings to float in but cannot share them with anyone.

As I have already stated, this is going to be a fluid process. We will make changes as necessary based on how things go.

I know this is going to be so different from the past summers, but at least we can get in the pool. The governor calls this “free swim”.  I have talked to the Mecklenburg County health department about this and they have given me their approval for all this. 

As I have already stated, this will be a fluid process, and we will make changes as we see what is going to happen and how many people want to be a part of the pool.  This weekend will be busy because of the holiday.

You sunbathers will at least get to get in the water to cool off!  I want to thank all of you for your patience these last few months.  It has not been easy on anyone. 

We, the Board of Directors have had to consider all the community of Tanglewood and what to do for the good of all. Even when it hasn’t been easy. I think we have done our best in this time of the pandemic and quarantine.  I hope everyone enjoys their summer including the pool.,

Prior to admission to the pool. You will be asked these questions. For Adults.

1.  Are you currently experiencing a fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or             higher), or sense of having a fever?
2.  A new cough that cannot be attributed to another health condition?
3.  New chills that cannot be attributed to another health condition?
4.  A new sore throat that cannot be attributed to another health condition?
5.  New muscle aches that cannot be attributed to another health condition       or specific activity (such as physical exercise).

Anyone experiencing symptoms will not be permitted in the facility. Screenings will be conducted in accordance with applicable privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations.

Here are the Phase Three Guidelines for Pools.

21 Safer At Home: Phase Three Swimming Pools
Scope: Indoor and outdoor Swimming Pools.
Phase 3: Establishments must either implement the following mandatory requirements or remain closed.
Mandatory Requirements:
Businesses must strictly adhere to the physical distancing guidelines, enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices, and enhanced workplace safety practices provided in the “Guidelines for All Business Sectors” document. If businesses choose to open, they must adhere to the following additional requirements for outdoor operations:
Post signage at the entrance that states that no one with a fever or symptoms of COVID-19, or known exposure to a COVID-19 case in the prior 14 days, is permitted in the establishment.
Post signage to provide public health reminders regarding physical distancing, gatherings, options for high-risk individuals, and staying home if sick (samples at bottom of this document).
Hot tubs, spas, saunas, splash pads, spray pools, and interactive play features must be closed.
Indoor and outdoor swimming pools may be open at up to 75% occupancy, if applicable, provided ten feet of physical distance may be maintained between patrons not of the same household. Free swim is allowed.
Swimming instruction and water exercise classes must be limited to allow all participants to maintain ten feet of physical distance where practicable. Parents or guardians may support a participant during class, and instructors may have contact with swimmers when necessary.
Seating may be provided on pool decks with at least ten feet of spacing between persons who are not members of the same household.

22 All seating (including lifeguard stations) must be cleaned and disinfected between uses. Employees working in customer-facing areas are required to wear face coverings over their nose and mouth, such as using CDC Use of Cloth Face Coverings guidance. Lifeguards responding to distressed swimmers are exempt from this requirement. Provide hand sanitizing stations, including at the entrance/exit and where shared equipment is utilized. Facilities should screen patrons for COVID-19 symptoms prior to admission to the facility. Patrons should be asked if they are currently experiencing fever (100.4degrees Fahrenheit or higher) or a sense of having a fever, a new cough that cannot be attributed to another health condition, new shortness of breath that cannot be attributed to another health condition, new chills that cannot be attributed to another health condition, a new sore throat that cannot be attributed to another health condition, or new muscle aches that cannot be attributed to another health condition or specific activity (such as physical exercise). Children should be screened per the CDC guidance for screening children. Anyone experiencing symptoms should not be permitted in the facility. Screenings should be conducted in accordance with applicable privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations




To open or not to open.
Virginia is still in Phase One of the Covid 19 pandemic. For swimming pools that means only lap swimming is allowed. One person per lane.  Also only 50% of the membership are allowed in the pool area at a time.  Constant monitoring, disinfecting, and social distancing has to be maintained at all times.  The good thing for all this is that being in the water is the safest part of the pool being open. 

I have talked to other pool managers in the area, Donnie, from Paradise Pool, and of course I listen to our Governor.

I have been advised to keep the pool closed until the state at least goes to Phase Two. If the pool opens, it will not be fully operational like we are used to.  The Virginia State Department of Health through the local health department, is now in charge of all public pools.  In order to open we have to apply.  To remain open, we have to daily make our chemical readings available to the health department. Our pool maintains the standards that is necessary for safe swimming and to meet the requirements of the Health Department.

There are other considerations for opening. Social distancing while on the deck of the pool, constant cleaning for sanitizing of the area, bathroom facilities, and entrance and exit of the pool.

We are working through all of this while we await to see what the Governor, the CDC, and the Health Department gives us for guidelines.

All of us at Tanglewood Shores has done a good job of staying safe and healthy.  We, the Board, do not mind doing the hard work to get the pool open, but we will not sacrifice everyone's health and safety to open it. 

 When we move to Phase Two and get more directions we will inform all of you of the decisions to open or not.

Linda Adamos, President

Here is a link to Virginia Phase 2 Guidelines, go to page 23 for Pool Guidelines as of 6/03/2020
Phase 2 Pool Guidelines