Community response to the threat of the COVID-19 virus is continually evolving. The following is the Face-Up First Swimming response plan as of today, Thursday, March 19 at 10:00 PM. The next update to the response plan will be posted on Friday morning, March 27. Please read this update and then check back on Friday.

FACE-UP FIRST® LESSONS AT OMAHA POOLS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED THROUGH FRIDAY, MARCH 27. Please revisit this website on the morning of Friday, March 27 for an update.

PLEASE READ

I created our first response plan prior to conducting lessons last weekend with input from the Douglas County Health Department and other health professionals, and after consulting with a school facilities and safety professional. I modified that plan early this week after the City and the White House issued new recommendations.

Yesterday, the City issued a health order and a proclamation of a state of emergency for Omaha. After carefully reviewing the order and proclamation, and after consultation with the Health Department and school administrators, I modified our plan again to meet and exceed new recommendations and legal requirements. I prioritized children who can’t swim over those who can already swim by dropping all classes for 25 Club and Voyager swimmers. I limited all scheduled swimming to truly private lessons. These lessons would have a very short individual exposure time, and strict limitations on spectators, with additional guidance provided regarding hygiene, healthy swimming, and social distancing behaviors.

Now it is Thursday evening. It is time to post. Even with today’s new COVID-19 response plan researched, discussed, written, evaluated, and approved, I am sad to announce that, out of an abundance of caution, I am hereby temporarily suspending all Face-Up First® spring lessons at Omaha locations. Whether or not swimming lessons should be considered an essential activity is debatable. However, at this time, I have decided to not provide this opportunity for families to leave their homes, regardless of the environment I could create for them at the pool.

Thank you for understanding. Check back for an update on Friday morning, March 27. Coach Shelby and I will resume teaching, perhaps with a modified schedule, any lessons at any time we determine that it is in the best interest of our Omaha Face-Up First® families and the community.

Keep in touch via the website. Check out the swimming videos on my YouTube channel. Be safe. We’ll get through this thing and be back swimming for good times on the other side.

- Jeanie Neal

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