Premier: ‘Pool Cleaning Is Not Essential Service’
“Cleaning a pool is not an essential or critical service, while we fight to save lives,” Premier David Burt said, with the Premier adding that it seems that “some people do not understand that cleaning a pool is not more important than saving a person’s life.”
Speaking at last night’s [April 9] press briefing, Premier Burt said, “I want to address a concern that has been expressed by people with pools in the possibilities of mosquitoes breeding. The Ministry of Health has confirmed that that is not an issue.
“Therefore pool cleaning is not and will not be deemed an essential service during this COVID-19 sheltering in place period. Pool cleaning companies should give instructions to their clients on how to perform self-maintenance. Pool owners can take guidance on a case by case basis from their pool cleaning company.
“But this request suggests, to me that some people do not understand that cleaning a pool is not more important than saving a person’s life. We must take this seriously and consider the questions that we’re asking, and the jobs that are being asked for regarding exemptions. So let me be clear, cleaning a pool is not an essential or critical service, while we fight to save lives.”
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No you are right and neither are at least half the government employees who don’t have anything to do but are still on full pay cheques whilst the rest of us in the private sector are hopeful of getting $500 if they are lucky !
100% I agree, our tax dollars need to be saved also. Is the plp gov worried about losing votes, money or people?
Its called REPARATION.
Government got 400 years of FREE labour.
Oh. So working for government is in your eyes the same thing as reparations ?
Thanks for clarifying that once and for all . Please don’t bring up the subject again as it’s now taken care of and you have been made whole .
Right Wing talk
Nitwits
A small compensation for 400 years of FREE LABOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you …we hear you loud and clear …some people just look for any excuse to break the rules…
As a pool Cleaner, the company I work for tried to get around to all pools to deliver chemicals the Friday before shelter in place so that clients could Make sure their pools were chlorinated During the two weeks. Mid way through the day we received clearance as an essential service as the health department had concerns that untreated pools would be a health hazard if left alone. Because of this we stopped the mad rush with the intention to put a responsible plan in place to continue the service to avoid any untreated water. We have now been told that we are not an essential service which is fine but our clients could have been prepared . In truth we were only going on the health departments recommendations and were prepared to Continue working to maintain this standard and not in any way trying to bend the rules or put any more lives in danger. I am now happy to be home with my family and following the guidelines. Stay safe everyone and be well
I guess nannies are essential service too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Which rules were the pool service companies breaking? Some had exemptions and some didn’t. It was the pool service companies that were pushing for clarification.
Thank you for that as a pool tec for over 25 yrs we did our best to help the whole industry and our clients and the people around them
It was the pool companies who were pushing for clarification. The health department gave some exemptions and some not. Should I assume you know all about weat Nile, dengue, Zika and water borne diseases?
Either way they wanted clarification and a decision like this should not have to go all the wy to the premier who has more important things to deal with.
What about draining your pool during this pandemic. dah!
You can not just drain a pool and then fill.it up again whenever you want. The sun will destroy and empty pool. It needs water in it.
Dah…..
Mr Burt could you publish a list of all exemptions granted, we would like to see if any other ‘non-essential’ got through. Thank you. If dirty pools breed Aedes aegypti due to neglect we could have another problem on our hands. Pet stores were mocked for applying, but the animals will have to be checked on and fed.
If your pool has gotten that bad over 14 days, then empty it.
I do my own, always do, it is pristine and all levels are on point. If you empty a pool the plaster can shrink and crack from drying out. This will be longer than 14 days bingi man.
And what happens when you empty a pool
? Why don’t people empty their pools all.winter in Bermuda?
At $5,000 to fill it back up again, that is a pretty large throw away comment, wouldn’t you say?
Chuck some clorox in man that stuff kills everything!
Problem is in a lot of cases the pool cleaner brings his own hose, pole, vacuum head, brush, chemicals, etc. If things ease up somewhat, perhaps the pool supply companies could be allowed a one-time delivery of these items.
Since you are home all day, Read the manual or google how to clean a pool.
I’m guessing getting ones hands dirty to go for a swim is beneath some people.
100% correct.
The reasoning totally misses the main point of chlorination of pools. ( Not merely cleaning).
Do not use your pool if it hasn’t been treated/disinfected for a couple of weeks.
Transmission of infection from persons is way more worrying and it would be a long time until it was dirty enough for mosquito breeding.
Covid-19 is killed with adequate chlorination. If no chlorine, don’t risk it!!
You never know if you or one of your kids or family is an asymptomatic carrier.
Thank you for the clarification. Pool companies have been asking for over a week for clarification. Some companies were given exemptions and some were not. In some cases some employees from a company were given exemptions and other were not, with both employees having identical jobs Companies are worried about water borne diseases and mosquitoes which can lead to west Nile, dengue and Zika. A simple clarification by the health department would have been great. One part of the health department was saying pool service companies were essential and the other part was saying they were not. No companies are really worried about leaves and dirt in a pool, it’s all about preventing other diseases. In Florida and other states in America, pool service companies are essential. It is hard to believe that we have no concern for mosquitoes when we have a lot.of resources in vector control trying to prevent mosquitoes! Which one is it?
Anyway, if the health department could have communicated effectively either yes or no then all the pool service companies would have listened and complied, they just wanted to know.
Most states in the US list liquor stores an essential service during this pandemic. People who are homeless are most at risk. Yet some people think that having their pool cleaned is essential to the community. Give me a break
If you’re that worried about the quality of your pool water after only two weeks then don’t use it. Other steps you can take as a responsible pool owner would be to secure your pool cover so that mosquitoes cannot access the water underneath.
The warning of the two week shut down was given so insecticide products that are made especially for pools & chlorine tablets should have been purchased beforehand. Also, note that mosquitos like standing water so you can also keep your circulating pump going via a daily time clock. Keep your filters clean to stop debris build up that may clog up the filters.
Point is, there are far bigger problems to solve around the island other than catering to trivial situations that responsible pool owners should have factored in beforehand.
That sounds good in theory, however in the real world that is not true. Would you like to guess how many pools in bermuda have covers? And how many could get one which was mosquito proof? I have seen pools with pumps on which are full of mosquitoes, but hey, what do I know, I’m just talking from experience and not an armchair, well actually now I am talking from an armchair. No hard feelings to you but practical is not always the same as theory. Pools are a science. It’s not like math where 2 + 2 always = 4.
Anyway, keep safe all
Yes it is.
If you don’t own a pool and can’t afford a pool you would never understand the importance of cleaning a pool and the status of a pool cleaner arriving at your home. Government will soon run out of money and then it will be anything goes as long as it results in revenue for the bankrupt government. There is no free money people – we are all going to pay handsomely for this misadventure. It will be survival of the fittest before this ends!
And I am one of the fittest and looking forward to what comes next. Only the strong shall survive as it’s the law of nature!
So true.
Oh but little Timmy and Little Sara will get upset that their pool hasn’t been cleaned. They swim all year round, they are going to be devastated knowing that their pool isn’t clean. If wish you people would get your head out your rear and see that pool cleaners are essential. OMG!!!!
So foreigners are granted to go work at air port n get a pay check (i kno a few)… but average bermudian that run own business that work with limited ppl around them have to stay put n lose income sigh makes sense inna!
I happy about this clarification because if I can’t go to work I don’t mind cleaning my own pool and probably should be cleaning my own !
I respect the Premier’s decision, but pool cleaning can be done without contact with the residents of the home’s pool that they are cleaning. And it would keep a sector of the economy active during this time.
That’s ok! I am making $2,000 a month from Government gift card for staying home!
Pools don’t even need to be cleaned. The chemicals in the water need to be maintained in order to keep mosquitoes and other water borne diseases away. That is the true importance of the pool technicians. Btw, these disease affect the owners of pools and the community around them. Funny how we pay vector control to target mosquitoes and now apparently it’s not important now. So will those people have jobs going forward
Is this still up to date? Or can we pool cleaning companies start making money again to feed our families now?
The tips given are helpful and noticeable you may consider covering your pool on the off chance that you won’t use it for an all-inclusive time frame. This helps keep trash like forgets about and bugs.