Can COVID-19 spread in Hot Tub or Swim Spa water?

Photo Source: HotTubsInc.com

News4Jax.com (Jacksonsville, Florida) posted:

‘With rising temperatures and summer coming, many people’s thoughts are turning to swimming pools. But with social distancing, face masks and other efforts to minimize the spread of the coronavirus new normal, would it be safe to go in the water?…

“…News4Jax put information circulating on social media saying you could catch coronavirus from pool water or in a hot tub through our Trust Index testing to get you a reliable answer….”

One answer offered was from the CDC –

“There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water play areas,” according to the CDC. “Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water”

Read other sources’s comments in the article.

Hot tub water caused Legionnaire’s outbreak in Asheville, N.C.

The outbreak occurred last year at the North Carolina Mountain State Fair. AP News reports:

“Hot tub water that sprayed into the air likely caused an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease that killed four people in North Carolina last year, state health officials said Thursday.

“The state Department of Health and Human released its final report on the outbreak, which infected people who attended a state fair in western North Carolina. The final report tallied 136 cases of Legionnaire’s disease and one case of Pontiac fever in residents of multiple states, officials said.”

“Ninety-six people were hospitalized.”

APNews.com

Read the article to discover how it happens and be careful about maintaining the water in your hot tub!