After reopening on September 8, the Prince George Aquatic Centre has had a 99 per cent fill rate of all registered swim blocks according to a new report to City Council.
4,310 customers were served between September 8-30, but with a few changes made in order to implement COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Updates include the Adult Swims being shared with swim clubs and the Friday Seniors Swim and Sunday Morning Adult Swim being changed to welcome all swimmers.
Now, the Aquatic Centre is planning on increasing its capacity in the new year, after a recent Provincial Health Order on gatherings and events was amended.
“The order does not apply to “individuals in a Recreation Centre when not attending an event,” reads the report to Council.
“This order does not negate the requirement of maintaining physical distancing, contact tracing or pool-specific requirements from the BC Lifesaving Society.”
On January 2, as part of Phase 3 of the Provincial Return-To-Sport Plan, the Aquatic Centre will increase the bather capacity based upon physical distancing of 7m2 per
swimmer.
The following changes will occur:
- Everyone Welcome Swim – 80 bathers
- Seniors Swim – 65 bathers
- Swim Club – 130 bathers (Special provisions as a ‘sport cohort’)
- All Adult Swims to be replaced with Everyone Welcome Swims.
- Update the weekend Everyone Welcome Swim to 1.5 hours per swim block
- Provide registered leadership programs (lifesaving/lifeguarding) for residents
- Provide registered Aquafit classes for residents
- Open all diving boards and the 5m tower during each of the four-weekend swim sessions
After increasing the weekly swim blocks to 35 from 33, the report estimates about 2,800 customers will attend the Aquatic Centre a week, working out to about 11,200 a month.
Swimmer occupancy is estimated to have a 40 per cent increase in bathers from current operations.