Flu Season could pack a punch on your property this year. After two years of virtually no cases of influenza, health experts expect a dramatic change this year. Right now, cases of COVID-19 continue to decline. Moreover, mask mandates and social distancing now seem like distant memories. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the easing of restrictions will fuel a severe season.

CDC Data shows a dramatic rise in cases since flu season began to change. More than 1,000 cases were diagnosed in the first month of October alone. For example, states like New York and Texas are seeing quadruple the amount of cases from this same time last year. Experts say another sign a severe flu season is on the way comes from the southern Hemisphere.

Typically, researchers monitor influenza activity from May to October in the Southern Hemisphere which experiences the season first. This year, Australia experienced its worst flu season in five years. The country reported 30,000 cases, which is 5,000 more than the country’s previous recorded Flu peak.

Flu Season: How to Limit Cases on Your Property

No one wants to experience the flu and there are several things you can do to prevent the virus on your property. First, let’s review how to prevent infection in the office where things can get tight.

• Consider requiring face masks inside your office
• Maintain as much distance from work stations as possible
• If your office is open to residents, clean and sanitize the space as much as possible.

The CDC Cleaning Guidelines issued during the beginning of the pandemic could also come in handy again.

Like COVID-19 prevention, keeping your hands clean is one of the best defenses against influenza. Property owners and managers should also be mindful of high tough areas when cleaning this Flu Season. For example, you might consider wiping down and sanitizing mailbox stations daily. Like COVID-19, influenza spreads through respiratory droplets and contact. Multiple people come into contact with these surfaces. Click here for more CDC resources on flu prevention in the office.