ALTHOUGH swimming in pools and beaches cannot cause people to contract the novel coronavirus, talking in close proximity with others after coming out of the water will, the Cagayan de Oro City's medical experts said.

Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) liaison officer Dr. Bernard Rocha said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had already reported that there are no scientific reports of the Covid-19 virus spreading to people through water in pools, beaches and other natural bodies of water.

According to the CDC, the virus mainly spreads when respiratory droplets from infected people land in the mouths or noses of others or possibly when inhaled into the lungs by others.

"Kaning virus mamatay man gihapon even sa water, labaw na kung ang treated nga water," Rocha said.

"There is no recorded nga natakdan og Covid-19 tungod sa nag swimming ang isa positive, there's no recorded ana. Kini ang danger lang, so after when you go out [of the water]. Mao na ang atong caution," he added.

Acting City Health Officer Dr. Lorraine Nery, for her part, advised those who are planning to swim in public pools and beaches to avoid gathering and talking in close proximity with people near the pool water or on the shore.

"Di man gyud malikayan nga sometimes dili man gyud na swimming naa ra sa tubig pero mag tapok kay mag-istorya ra dinha within sa water lalo na sa pool, magtapok, so avoid," Nery said.

"Kung naa man gani sa pool, kung mag-swimming, swimming lang, wala na toy istorya gatapok nga naa sa tubig," she added.