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New Jersey Reopening Pools, Beginning June 22, 2020
By June 10, 2020 Posted in Firm News Share
We hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy in this difficult time.
On Monday, June 15, 2020, New Jersey is set to enter “Stage 2” of its reopening plan. This permits restaurants to begin offering outdoor dining again. Non-essential retail stores can similarly reopen, at fifty percent (50%) capacity. Additionally, daycare centers can also open up beginning June 15, 2020.
Shortly thereafter, on June 22, 2020, New Jersey can begin reopening its pools. On June 9, 2020, the Commission of New Jersey’s Department of Health, Judith Persichilli, announced the guidelines for reopening pools. These guidelines require the following:
- Pool capacity is limited to fifty percent (50%). Reducing capacity can be accomplished by implementing a reservation system or a pass system, or by cutting hours.
- Individuals must practice social distancing, even while in the water.
- No pool toys (e.g., pool noodles, inner tubes, plastic dive toys, etc.) are permitted in pools.
- All frequently-touched surfaces must be routinely cleaned and disinfected several times per day.
- Visitors must enter and exit the pool area in a staggered fashion.
- All visitors and staff must wear face coverings, with the exception of lifeguards and those under the age of two (2).
- Commonly used areas must contain signs marking off six (6) feet of spacing.
- Signs must be posted around pools warning patrons to be on the alert for signs of illness. These signs must also warn people to avoid the pool if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID‑19.
- Staff members must be screened for fever. Handwashing and wearing gloves is encouraged for all staff, and required when handling food.
- Foot coverings must be worn in shower, restroom, and other indoor facilities. Likewise, occupancy of these areas must be limited. Further, New Jersey has recommended the installation of foot pedals or motion sensors in shower areas to assist in stopping the spread of COVID‑19.
- Guests and staff must sign-in to the pool to help aid in contact-tracing efforts.
- Hand sanitizers must be provided throughout the pool facilities.
The State may announce additional requirements in the remaining time before June 22, 2020. But any community planning on reopening its pool should familiarize itself and begin planning for the above as soon as possible.
If you or your community is planning on reopening its amenities in the coming weeks, we at Griffin Alexander, P.C., can help to draft guidelines, requirements, disclaimers, and releases. Our attorneys are available to discuss spacing issues, determining and enforcing capacity, cleaning schedules, scheduling reservations, prohibiting guests, and so on. We can help you decide what works best for your community while helping to assure that you are as covered as possible.
Stay healthy and safe,
Griffin Alexander, P.C.
The information in this Client Alert is provided solely for information purposes. It should not be construed as legal advice on any specific matter and is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship. The information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based upon particular circumstances. Each legal matter is unique, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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