Red flags, which mean bathing is not permitted, were put up this morning on the town’s beaches because of the plague of jellyfish that has appeared along almost the whole of the western Costa del Sol. As a result, many residents and holidaymakers have chosen to go to the communal swimming pools in the afternoon, and many of these pools have exceeded the capacity limits currently in force under the Covid restrictions.
Manilva, although the figures have been improving over the last week, remains at Level 3. For this reason, the Andalusian regional health department (Consejería de Sanidad de la Junta de Andalucía), in its publication in the Official Gazette of the Junta de Andalucía (BOJA) of 7 May, announced the new rules and restrictions that all communal swimming pools must observe this summer. At alert level 3, the maximum capacity must be 75% for outdoor pools and 50% for indoor pools. The facilities must also be cleaned and disinfected «meticulously», «with special attention to enclosed spaces such as changing rooms or toilets before the opening of each day«.
The Association of Property Administrators of Málaga and Melilla (Colegio de Administradores de Fincas de Málaga y Melilla) called a few weeks ago for individual responsibility so that people can enjoy the bathing season as safely as possible. «Despite the end of the State of Alarm, it is very important to comply with general measures such as keeping an interpersonal distance of 1.5 metres and washing hands frequently.»
According to information provided by Protección Civil Manilva, the species of jellyfish is the Pelagia noctiluca, one of the most common species off our coast and also one of the most stinging, carried in by the easterly wind (levante). According to the same sources, the forecast is for the levante wind to continue until next Saturday at least, so these marine animals are expected to continue to be sighted throughout the week.
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