KUALA LUMPUR – Struggling to keep afloat, operators and coaches of swimming schools are appealing to the government to reopen the swimming industry.
Aquabubs Swim School director Joanne Ho said swimming pools had been closed for 185 days and the livelihood of some 2,000 people involved in the industry had been adversely affected by the closure.
“We acknowledge and appreciate the government’s actions and efforts to safeguard us all.
“We are extremely appreciative of the tireless efforts of Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and his team, in reopening sectors of the sports industry.
“However, we are disheartened by the recent announcement that while gyms, outdoor sports and other non-contact sports are allowed to resume operations, swimming pools are not included in this decision,” she said in a statement.
Ho said the industry, via a survey, had gathered 116 responses from swimming school owners, public pool operators, diving schools, and clubhouse pool operators from nine states, Putrajaya, and Kuala Lumpur.
She noted that swimming pools have been closed for a total of 185 days in the last 12 months and have only been allowed to open for 148 days or less since March 18, 2020.
“The Malaysian swimming industry has lost 90% of its revenue in the span of 12 months. With the MCO being extended and pools not allowed to resume operations, 79% of the respondents say they will have to cease operations by the second quarter of 2021.
“Almost all the respondents say that their cash reserves have run out and are operating on borrowed funds/ loans,” said Ho.
She said that 48% of staff have been laid off and 84% of total swimming industry jobs will be lost if the industry is subjected to further closures in 2021.
“40% of swim instructors have had no income for the past year, while 37% have had a pay cut of 50% or more,” said Ho.
She said the Malaysian swimming industry has not had a report about on-site transmissions, and claimed that chlorine had been found to be “effective in deactivating the coronavirus and preventing it from spreading”.
“The large volume of pool water will also dilute any virus particles expelled into the pool water,” said Ho.
Adding that the swimming industry is always the “first to close and the last to open”, Ho said that aquatic activity was a lifeline for many people for physical and mental health reasons.
“The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is unaware of any scientific reports of Covid-19 spreading through pool water provided that swimmers continue to observe social distancing rules.
“The learn-to-swim industry has been a “forgotten” essential service, which may have dangerous consequences. If there is no opportunity for people to learn to swim, the statistics of fatal and non-fatal drownings will increase.
“A lot of children with disabilities need water for their therapy, movement and mental health because they do not have many options for recreational activities,” she said.
Ho noted that unlike gyms and other enrichment programmes that can conduct online classes and still get revenue, it was impossible to conduct swimming lessons online.
“If other service industries and sports can operate under strict standard operating procedures, so can swimming lessons and aquatic activities,” she said.
Ho proposed several SOPs for swimming pools:
1. Professional maintenance and frequent testing of swimming pool chlorine levels to ensure industry standard levels eliminate viruses and bacteria in the water.
2. Ensuring that the number of people in the pool is kept at a minimum (one person per square metre) and the number of people, including staff are kept to a minimum in the facility besides ensuring social distancing of at least one metre on deck and public areas.
3. Maintaining proper ventilation at all times for facilities in covered areas or indoors.
4. Frequent sanitation of surfaces in public areas such as waiting areas and toilet facilities.
Ho said the industry provided an important skill and contributed to regular physical activity, better quality of life, and in the long run, part of the nation's drive for overall economic stability. – The Vibes, February 15, 2021
