COVID-19: Does chlorine kill the coronavirus?

In such trying times, keeping up with normal routines helps in maintaining good mental and physical health. And for many, it means exercising regularly and weekly visits to the public pool. With that, there might be some questioning the safety of swimming in COVID times, and wondering if the chlorine in the pools is strong enough to wipe out all kinds of viruses and bacteria. Let’s aim to quell fears and dispel myths regarding swimming in the midst of the ongoing situation.

What is Chlorine?

Chlorine is a chemical element; yes, the one in your periodic table. It is naturally occurring, and can be said to be a building block for other compounds. Chlorine can be produced by electrolysis, where an electric current is passed through a salt solution to separate the elements. The uses and benefits of chlorine are almost endless; from household uses to healthcare and even in your food, it mainly acts as a disinfectant to keep things germ-free.

How does chlorine work in pools?

Chlorine is added into our swimming pools to kill bacteria and microbes by reacting with these organisms, thereby disabling the functions of their biomolecules which they would need to survive. Of course there are other disinfectants around in the market, but chlorine is the most widely used.

So, does it mean that we can overlook personal hygiene before jumping into the pool?

Not at all! If you do not have the habit of showering before entering the pool, or worse, have the habit of peeing in the pool, here’s all the reasons why you shouldn’t. Chlorine is very quickly used up in pools as it reacts with ammonia from our sweat and sunscreen to form chloramine. And as the hours and days go on, the level of ammonia would rise, as well as resulting in an increase in chloramine levels.

Tri-chloramine is also produced due to the high levels of ammonia. As more chlorine reacts with chemicals like ammonia, less chlorine is available in the pool. That strong chlorine smell you get hit with every time you go near a pool? It’s none other than tri-chloramine, which can also cause eye irritation. In other cases, chloramine may cause skin irritation too, as the chemical is a drying agent which may strip the skin of its natural, protective oils. For swimmers with sensitive skin or compromised immunity, there is a risk of infection which may worsen over time.

Chlorine and the coronavirus

We have established that chlorine is essential in killing germs and bacteria in our swimming pools. What about the coronavirus? Does chlorine work its magic against it as well? Well, the short answer is yes. The virus is largely airborne, and transmitted through respiratory droplets. The evidence for water borne transmission is very weak, and there are inconclusive studies on how long the virus can survive in water. So there is no need to worry about swimming during these times; even if the virus somehow finds its way into the water, the chlorine present would be more than enough to curb its presence.

That said, proper all-round hygiene is important to ensure that every pool user gets a safe and smooth experience, as well as to not reduce the effectiveness of the chlorine supplied in the water. Routine habits like showering before entering the pool goes a very long way in reducing the risk of infection, and for the upkeeping of general health. Staying home when unwell and disinfecting shared equipment and spaces are also good practices to continue doing. If you do get infected at a pool, it would most likely be caused by the virus in airborne particles rather than through the pool water itself.

Safe to say, it appears that the risk of catching the virus is higher when you are in the locker rooms or chilling by the poolside than when actually swimming in the pool. But before you start panicking and avoid going swimming altogether, be rest assured that as long as you are healthy and take necessary precautions, you can have a perfectly safe swim session. The measures in place like capacity limits and lane segregation are there so that you can have a peace of mind as you get that much needed workout.

Conclusion

As previously discussed, yes, chlorine does the job of killing viruses including COVID-19. Airborne viruses like this one are highly unlikely to end up in the water, but even if it does, be assured that the chlorine is more than able to neutralise any risk. Go ahead, and tap on swimming as a great way to boost your mental health and keep yourself fighting fit amidst the uncertain times these days.

Find out more about our Private Swimming Lessons!