Questions have been raised as to whether hot tubs are safe to use with fears of the coronavirus looming- the short answer is yes.
The CDC (the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) released official guidance in regard to the safety of hot tubs with the threat of coronavirus looming. According to the CDC, there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Furthermore, the CDC states that proper operation, maintenance and disinfection with Chlorine or Bromine of hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.
It is suggested that Chlorine/ Bromine should kill the coronavirus. However, the concern is not the water itself, but the external surfaces around the spa. Therefore, providing that surfaces which come into frequent contact are cleaned/ disinfected and there are sufficient levels of sanitation in the water, there is no reason why you can’t continue to use your hot tub. It could potentially be beneficial.
Not convinced? PWTAG (Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group) have issued a similar statement due to the volume of enquiries on the matter. After consulting with Public Health England, they have confirmed that coronavirus would be inactive at the levels of chlorine used in swimming pools.
Are there other possible benefits to using your hot tub?
U.S. and Iranian researchers concluded that the places which have seen the virus spread the most ferociously are those with climates which are mild in humidity and have temperatures which range from around 5 to 11 degrees Celsius in winter. For example, look at places such as Bangkok with a much hotter climate, the virus there has spread much slower. Therefore, the high humidity and temperature could possibly help in some cases.
Please bear in mind that no research has yet been published in scholarly journals which requires papers to be vetted by experts working in the same field and predictions should be taken with extreme caution.
Furthermore, the CDC does not currently have an opinion on whether soaking in a hot tub will kill the virus in your body (if contracted). But as mentioned above, the heat, humidity and correct sanitation should ensure that the virus is rendered inactive which should in turn stop the virus from being contractable within a hot tub.
Please remember that at the moment COVID-19 is still new and there is much more research and tests to be done before they can issue conclusive facts. But at the very least we can assure you that it is safe to continue using your hot tub.
References and further reading