Industrial warehouses are critical to the supply chain, but are susceptible to the transmission of pathogens between workers and surfaces, so they must be regularly cleaned and maintained according to the highest standards.

The Challenge of Warehouse Cleaning Before, During, and After COVID-19
Industrial warehouses are an increasingly necessary component of day-to-day living during the extended lockdowns, which have forced an often extreme shift in how consumers acquire necessary products from manufacturers.

Several emerging technologies and trends in the cleaning industry came to the forefront in 2020, thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but not all technologies are created equally, are being deployed correctly, or operated in a manner that is both beneficial to facility occupants and the environment.

According to current data, Influenza and Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILI) have remained far lower than in past seasons, but health professionals are urging caution in interpreting the data and have voiced concerns regarding a rise in cases early in 2021.

Influenza Activity Remains Low But Officials Urge Caution
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reported ILI cases currently stand at 1.6% for the fourth consecutive week--far below the national average of 2.6%.

Additionally, the CDC has reported that:

Respiratory specimens submitted to clinical labs testing positive for influenza stands at 0.3% for the week of December 12th.

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 sanitization 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 sanitization 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 sanitizing 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 sanitization 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 sanitization 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.