Warren officials should reconsider the decision not to open the city’s public pool — or at least give the public a better reason than amorphous “outlying concerns” over COVID-19.

According to the Centers for Disease Control guidance on pools updated on Feb. 1, the CDC is not aware of any scientific reports of the virus that causes COVID-19 spreading to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, water playgrounds, or other treated aquatic venues. And the public pool’s closure doesn’t mean children and their families won’t be swimming this year — it just means they’ll swim in rivers and lakes without someone to enforce both safety guidelines and COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

While the CDC hasn’t seen spread from swimming, the federal agency still recommends social distancing while in the water for those who aren’t from the same household, staggered use of shared spaces like bathrooms or locker rooms and limited occupancy in both the pool and locker rooms.

These things could be done in the city pool, but it comes at a cost for a facility that loses money every year. If the city’s decision is being made because city officials don’t think they can afford the added safety measures, then they should say so.