CAN YOU GET CORONAVIRUS FROM A HOT TUB?
The new CDC report states that “There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19”.
Can You Get Coronavirus From People In The Hot Tub With You?
There are a few concerns you should be aware of when using a public or shared hot tub with people who may have been infected with the virus. You could still get it from any infected people using the tub with you – if they are coughing or sneezing on you. Just like the flu or the common cold, Coronavirus is an airborne transmitted disease. However remember that it cannot survive in chlorinated or brominated water – period. In other words, the water in the hot tub will not harbor the virus; it will kill it.
In facilities where they are handling Coronavirus patients or quarantined people who may have contracted the virus, they frequently use chlorine bleach to wipe down and clean areas to ensure the virus has been killed. This is why it’s important to understand that hot tub water, in and of itself, would not transmit Coronavirus provided that it is properly sanitized. Chlorine and/or bromine is extremely effective in killing the virus.
WHAT ABOUT A PRIVATE HOT TUB IN YOUR OWN HOME?
If you have a private, home hot tub, where you are familiar with your family members or guests who are using the tub, properly sanitized hot tub water will not transmit Coronavirus. So you are pretty safe using your own hot tub in your own home. But if you do think that someone may have brought the virus into your hot tub area for some reason, simply super shocking the tub water and wiping down the surrounding areas with bleach will definitely kill any residual virus contaminants.
SO BOTTOM LINE – SHOULD YOU TAKE THAT DIP OR NOT?
You are most likely safe to take that dip! The odds of catching the Coronavirus from a hot tub or a swimming pool are extremely low. Luckily, hot tubs and swimming pools normally have a residual level of chlorine or bromine in them, so they are actually one of the most unlikely places where you could possibly catch the Coronavirus. And remember that according to the CDC, “there have been NO reported cases of Coronavirus transmissions from either hot tubs or swimming pools”. So as long as you follow some of the common sense practices we have listed above in this article, you should be good to go!
QUICK TIPS FOR RECOMMENDED WATER SANITIZER CHEMICAL LEVELS IN HOT TUBS DURING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
In private (homeowner) hot tubs, we would recommend the use of chlorine, in addition to bromine, ozone or other hot tub sanitizers – just to be safe. Shocking the hot tub before or after use, is a good idea. Especially if non-family/friends have used, or will be using, the hot tub. The standard recommended chlorine / bromine levels are still fine (1.5 ppm – 3.0 ppm)
