{"id":12325,"date":"2020-06-23T10:00:44","date_gmt":"2020-06-23T14:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=12325"},"modified":"2020-07-29T15:53:43","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T19:53:43","slug":"coronavirus-summer-safety-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/coronavirus-summer-safety-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"How to safely enjoy summer in a COVID-19 world"},"content":{"rendered":"

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: As experts learn more about the novel coronavirus, news and information changes. For the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the<\/span><\/i> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

While many states are reopening public swimming pools, summer camps, and amusement parks, others are reporting sudden spikes in the number of COVID-19 cases. Even with precautions in place, it\u2019s natural to have concerns about the best ways to keep your family healthy while enjoying summer activities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to realize that just because states are reopening, this doesn\u2019t mean the virus is gone, or any less dangerous for those with compromising conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes,\u201d says <\/span>Niket Sonpal, MD, a New York\u2013based internist and an adjunct professor at Touro College.<\/span> \u201cIt\u2019s important to be aware of COVID-19 cases in the area where you live or plan to spend time and to practice good hygiene and social distancing, wear masks, and use hand sanitizer.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Will the coronavirus survive in the summer?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Viruses typically survive longer in cool, dry environments, according to the <\/span>CDC<\/span><\/a>. However, there is not enough data to determine whether the novel coronavirus will be affected by the summer heat and humidity. Therefore, <\/span>social distancing<\/span><\/a> and other safety tips will be important to carry out through the summer.<\/span><\/p>\n

6 summer safety tips for the COVID-19 pandemic<\/span><\/h2>\n

Here are more ways you can stay safe while moving forward with your summer plans.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Make pool safety a priority<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Swimming pools may pose one of the lower-risk summer activities since the<\/span> U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a> (CDC), say there\u2019s no evidence the coronavirus can be transmitted through water.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChlorine kills the virus, but it can still be spread outside of the water,\u201d says Robert Boughan, MD, family practice physician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. \u201cSo even if the pool itself is safe, all the other things surrounding it might not be. Families need to practice social distancing and think about where they\u2019re placing pool chairs and how close they are to others by maintaining a safe distance of at least six feet both in and out of the pool.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Boughan says pool operators should also take precautions to ensure safety by:<\/span><\/p>\n