2021 Flu Season: The Pandemic Edition Ultimately, to be successful in this effort, several best practices should be integrated into every cleaning program for optimal results. By Patrick KehoeJan 14, 2021 There has been a keen focus on keeping facilities clean and safe against the coronavirus for the past ten months. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the need for sound disinfection processes across almost all facilities. However, as we turn the calendar and temperatures continue to dip, there are other communicable diseases in addition to COVID-19 that inevitably have started to spread. Welcome to cold and flu season: pandemic edition. According to a Centers for Disease and Prevention study, an average of three to 11 percent of the United States population becomes infected with the flu every year. In 2019 alone, more than 410,000 Americans were hospitalized from the flu. This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses like the flu is more important than ever.While facility managers and their custodial teams have continued to be the first line of defense in fighting the spread of the coronavirus, this flu season, they must continue to keep their guards up. Ultimately, to be successful in this effort, several best practices should be integrated into every cleaning program for optimal results. Keep a Routine The first and most important step to any flu season cleaning plan is to diligently continue with the daily and ongoing routine of cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing. As the seasons shift, it’s the perfect time to audit your existing cleaning plan to ensure it is effective and that you have the right chemicals and tools for the job. With a variety of processes and best practices available, it is not uncommon to see the word cleaning used when what is meant is sanitizing, or to hear someone mistake disinfecting for sterilizing. During the pandemic, more people, industries and publications have joined the conversation, and for some, understanding the nuances between cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting and sterilizing has become confusing. However, it’s important to know the purpose each plays in a building’s ongoing cleaning efforts. To ensure accuracy and to prevent potential misunderstandings, it’s important to remember the following: Let's block ads! (Why?)