North American public health officials believe COVID and the flu could cause more people to become sick.
Up here in North America, we are all focused and concerned about the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
Many states are still experiencing high numbers of cases and deaths.
Adding to these concerns is that winter is right around the corner, and with winter, the flu season begins.
North American public health officials believe this could be a double whammy – COVID and the flu – causing many more people to become sick, need hospitalization, and many will die.
However, countries in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Chile, all experiencing the tail end of their winters and annual flu season now, are painting an unexpected scenario.
The number of people coming down with the flu in these countries is amazingly low.
For instance:
•Chile recorded 1,134 seasonal respiratory infections this year compared with 20,949 this time last year.
•Australia had 84 influenza cases in the last two weeks of June; they had 22,047 last June.
•One New Zealand clinic reports they are seeing 90 percent fewer flu cases.
•In Argentina, the number of flu cases has fallen 64 percent.
So why is this happening?
One reason is because more people are getting flu shots this year.
However, according to Rick Vanderkoy, CEO of Secure Cleaning Building Services, a leading Illinois contract cleaning company, “a lot is due to what we have learned dealing with the pandemic.”
For instance:
•Handwashing has been ramped up considerably in these countries.
•Social distancing and the wearing of masks are widespread.
•Large gatherings are banned, and many schools have been closed.
“Further, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting have played a major role in reducing [the number of] flu cases in the Southern Hemisphere,” adds Vanderkoy.
“Not only are fewer people getting the flu in this area of the world, but companies are saving billions of dollars in absenteeism cost and lost worker productivity. What is happening in the Southern Hemisphere proves once again that cleaning is an investment. It protects health and saves money.”
We are infection control experts, here to help building managers keep their facilities cleaner, healthier, greener, and safer, in the most cost-effective ways possible.
To learn more about Secure Clean, contact us at 888-609-1410.
To learn more about Secure Clean, contact us at 888-609-1410.
