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Community Pool On Central Coast Closed Due To COVID-19 Concerns

(City of Santa Maria photo)
Santa Maria's Paul Nelson Aquatic Center is closed as of December 31st due to COVID-19 safety concerns.

A popular Central Coast community pool has been closed because of COVID-19 concerns.

About 20 percent of the lifeguard staff at the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center in Santa Maria has either tested positive, or been exposed to someone with the virus.

The pool complex will be closed until at last January 14th.  City officials say it’s possible a lifeguard might have to perform lifesaving procedures which would result in close physical contact.  Because of COVID-19, they say it poses an unacceptable risk to both the community, and staff members.

The complex reopened over the summer following a major renovation.  It’s been open since for limited use with COVID-19 safety protocols in place.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.