Sick building syndrome--the unseen killer of workplace health and productivity--is rapidly being thrust to center stage as efforts to combat the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have both improved and simultaneously eroded indoor air quality.

Sick Building Syndrome and SARS-CoV-2
Sick building syndrome is a disorder typically traced to the indoor environment and air quality of a particular facility that afflicts occupants while present in the building with a wide range of symptoms commonly observed in cold and flu infections, but where the symptoms almost always abate shortly after exiting the building.

Mental health concerns among US office workers have increased exponentially recently, due in large part to the global COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the need for businesses that wish to remain competitive to implement and maintain high-quality facility health and hygiene practices.

COVID-19 has forever changed the face and function of the janitorial industry--certainly for the better--with greater emphasis being placed on effective cleaning for health measures and occupant wellness and safety.

COVID-19 has Forever Changed the Janitorial Industry
The pandemic has completely changed the janitorial industry in many ways, including:

How often cleaning is performed.

A hypothetical scenario regarding a potentially devastating 2021-22 influenza season starting this fall is gaining some steam as health officials worry that a diminished 2020-21 season has left many unexposed and vulnerable.

Dire Predictions Regarding the 2021-22 Influenza Season
The 2020-21 influenza season was a small boon to overtaxed healthcare systems already working at capacity to address the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

Despite the recent focus on the airborne spread of SARS-CoV-2, the vast majority of viruses are spread via touch, either directly with a contagious host or indirectly from a contaminated surface, underscoring the value of effective cleaning for health programs.

Facility cleanliness is a critical component to the successful operations of any organization--ensuring the health and safety of occupants and the preservation of the built environment, among other things

Why Cleaning Matters
The COVID-19 pandemic brought the importance of facility cleaning practices to the forefront of many conversations about human health and wellness.

Toilets and urinals are increasingly falling under scrutinization as studies begin to pile up, identifying the devices and their plumes as major sources of infectious disease transmission, including COVID-19.

Regular Toilet and Urinal Cleaning is a Must
Dirty public restrooms have long been the bane of many organizations.

While the world currently struggles in the throes of the current pandemic, many have warned that we should be preparing for the next--a reality few, eager to return to normal, might be ready for.

Is Your Facility Prepared for the Next Pandemic?
It is accurate to say that the COVID-19 pandemic caught many off guard, resulting in a catastrophic loss of life and, though briefly, a deterioration of vital infrastructure.

Toilet plumes emit aerosolized particles containing pathogenic bacteria and, according to recent studies, are responsible for the spread of contagious aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 particles to surfaces and occupants in public restrooms.

Toilet Plumes Transmit Aresoloized Pathogenic Bacteria and Pathogens Including SARS-CoV-2
Restrooms have come under scrutiny for their role in widespread outbreaks of certain diseases.

Due to the devastating outcomes directly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and indirectly related to the world's response, facility occupants have forever changed their views and expectations of facility cleanliness, hygiene, and safety.

How COVID-19 Changed Occupants Expectations of Facility Cleanliness
Facility occupants are notably more concerned with facility cleanliness and hygiene than at any point in the recent past.