Schools have been a focal point for the debate surrounding SARS-CoV-2 and the potential for transmission from students to teachers and faculty in the classroom and parents at home, with buses topping the list of areas of concern for multiple reasons.

Keeping School Buses Safe from SARS-CoV-2
According to the Safe Routes Partnership's National Statistics on School Transportation, as of the 2004-05 school year, the last year such information was compiled, approximately 55.3% of the students enrolled in the K-12 program--roughly 45,625,458 children--ride the bus to and from school each day.

Community--non-healthcare affiliated--facilities, such as schools, various types of businesses, and daycare centers, are either open or preparing to open shortly with the intent of remaining so for the duration of this public health emergency, which means strict cleaning and disinfection guidelines must be followed.

Short-term, eliminating the spread of COVID-19 is of paramount concern, but the long-term ramifications of the decisions made on how the pandemic is addressed will be felt for years to come.

Guidelines for Safer COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfection in the Workplace
As the dust finally begins to settle on the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 and concrete information regarding the nature and survivability of the virus is better understood, specific protocols that guide business decisions regarding cleaning and infection control programs can be developed.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented demand for cleaning and disinfectant products, many of which can lead to long-term health issues, are potentially deadly, and have been shown to harm the natural environment.

Safely Cleaning and Disinfecting Facilities Against Pathogens and Outbreaks
The rapid spread and rise in cases and deaths associated with SARS-CoV-2 resulted in a run on every cleaning and disinfection product available, regardless of their intended use, recognized claims, or potential hazards, resulting in numerous preventable hospitalizations and deaths.

Once again, as businesses prepare to reopen their doors to the public and more schools open their doors to students, occupants and facility managers will focus on a wide range of enhanced cleaning and proven disinfection services to ensure the transmission rates stay down for good this time around.

Large facilities, including schools, hotels, and cruise ships, shuttered due to COVID-19 travel and operational restrictions are at an increased risk of transmitting deadly legionella bacteria through a number of commonly used systems that have sat dormant for months.

2020 saw a fundamental shift in the way buildings are how service providers interact with facility occupants and school or business managers, resulting in not only a high rate of approval of cleaning outcomes, but a laundry list of complaints from both sides.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the formation of several partnerships whose aim is to increase the hygiene and sanitation of schools and businesses, increase their staff's capacity to respond to viral outbreaks in the future, and develop methods to prevent the spread of illness to facility occupants.

Consumer confidence in business cleanliness is high going into the holiday shopping season, but challenges with personal protective equipment and disinfectant use remain.

High Consumer Confidence in Business Cleanliness
A recent study has shown a high level of consumer confidence regarding business facility cleanliness going into the holiday season.

Day porter services can positively impact business financials, cleaning outcomes, facility hygiene, and occupant wellness and productivity.

Day Porter Cleaning Services Benefit Schools and Businesses
There are several advantages to implementing some form of day porter services in your school or businesses cleaning program, including:

The improvement of facility hygiene and the protection of occupant health via ongoing touchpoint and high-traffic area cleaning.