By Greg Ellison

Aquatics employee tested positive for coronavirus last week, sent home two weeks

(Aug. 27, 2020) Staffing challenges are mounting for Ocean Pines Aquatics after an employee tested positive for coronavirus last week.

Last Friday, the OPA announced an aquatics staff member who last worked on Aug. 20 had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

“We have notified employees believed to have had close contact with the affected employee directly, and asked them not to report to work for 14 days,” the OPA said in a press release.

Unrelated to covid-19, the Beach Club pool was briefly shuttered last Friday but is set to reopen tomorrow.

Matt Ortt Companies cofounder Ralph DeAngelus said the short-term closure was tied to personnel issues.

“The Beach Club is wide open,” he said. “They were going to close the pool, but it’s not going to close now.

“It was more about staffing,” he said. “They have since found staffing to come back and they’re going to be able to reopen it on Friday through the remainder of the summer.”

Also coinciding with the covid-19 test announcement was a decision to close the Sports Core pool on Aug. 21 for semiannual cleaning and draining, with the facility slated to reopen Sept. 7.

The Sports Core offices remain open for class registration from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and noon. Swim classes at the Sports Core Pool get underway on Sept. 7.

Based on staffing availability, the OPA announced that pool facilities at Mumford’s Landing and the Swim & Racquet Club would remain open through Labor Day, with the Yacht Club pool also open for weekends in September.

The OPA statement also advised patrons to remain vigilant in following state issued health safety guidelines.

“It is important to continue practicing sound hygiene practices by frequently washing hands thoroughly, maintaining six feet of separation between others, and wearing masks when indoors or when social distancing is not possible,” the release said.

Regardless of Beach Club pool operations, DeAngelus said food and drink options never took a pause.

“The Beach Club restaurant and bar will have never closed,” he said. “It’s going to remain open though Labor Day.”

DeAngelus said despite the dwindling number of days left for patrons to visit the Beach Club, the remaining time is crucial for the bottom line.

“It’s been a rough summer,” he said. “We need every last day of that business at the Beach Club.”

For updated pool availability information, call the Sports Core office at 410-641-5255.