Even if you’re not usually a germaphobe, cold and flu season can have the strongest-willed of us feeling squeamish about touching things like bus and subway poles, doorknobs, and even shaking a stranger’s hand. As many moms like to remind their kids: You don’t know where that hand has been. And during the colder months, when it seems that everyone is sniffling and sneezing, a hands-off policy may seem smart.

But how likely is it really that you’d get sick from touching an infected handrail or countertop?

Pretty likely, Alison Carey, MD, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Drexel University, tells Health. “Flu viruses can survive on hard surfaces (like bus poles) .. door knobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, elevator buttons, gas pumps... etc. and infect another person for 24 to 48 hours,” she says. “Cold viruses don’t survive as long—usually a few hours. But there is evidence that they can survive and be passed on for up to 24 hours.”

More at source: Health.com

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A new Edmonton-based app aims to become the "Uber of house cleaning."

"Everyone has watched the growth of Uber and Skip the Dishes and all these other on-demand services and, for whatever reason, ... no one has really touched cleaning," said Angus Gastle, CEO of CleanNow on CBC's Radio Active.

"Maybe it's not sexy or maybe they don't understand it."

Handy, a cleaning service app developed in the New York, is available in Toronto and Vancouver, but, for now, there still isn't a service like this available across Canada, Gastle said.

CleanNow launched in Edmonton in November with plans to expand to Calgary and then across Canada, he said. 

Gastle said he has already connected with 5,000 cleaners throughout the country.

More at source: CBC

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Local employers are scrambling to keep their offices flu free after more than 80,000 Americans died from flu-related illnesses last year − the highest death toll in more than 40 years.

Unfortunately, many workers who come to work sick pass along germs at the office, which becomes a breeding ground for disease. Studies indicate the average adult brings their fingers to the nose, mouth or eyes about 16 times per hour, and germs thrive on human touch. The flu can cost the United States up to $167 billion per year in healthcare costs and lost productivity.

That’s why local cleaning pros with Stratus Building Solutions, the nation’s leading commercial cleaning and janitorial company, have created “Fight the Office Flu” kits to help businesses stay as flu-free as possible.

More at source: Omaha.com

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United Maintenance — one of the O’Hare Airport contract-holders cited by Chicago’s former aviation commissioner as getting special attention from Ald. Ed Burke — has made headlines before.

The janitorial services firm is run by Rick Simon, a former Chicago police officer with a controversial past.

Simon once had on his payroll a man who served prison time after being indicted along with the late mob boss Anthony “Big Tuna” Accardo.

Simon also was partners in a heavy equipment company with a man who has been described by law enforcement as a member of the mob.

More at source: Chicago Sun Times

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A severe respiratory illness, the flu can be easily spread -- usually from coughing or sneezing -- and can lead to severe complications and even death.

On average each year, about 5 percent to 20 percent of the population gets the flu and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications.

So how can we change these statistics?

"The best way to avoid getting the flu is to give your body a better chance to fight infection, and that starts with a flu shot," said Dr. Lubna Madani, north region medical director, Northwestern Medicine. "Flu vaccines may vary in effectiveness from year to year, but getting the shot increases your chances of being protected and lessens your symptoms if you do get ill."

Flu myths

Each year as the flu season approaches, doctors hear the same myths from patients. These include:

"The flu shot can make me sick."

The flu vaccine is made from an inactivated virus that can't cause infection. So, if you get sick after getting a flu vaccination, you were likely going to get sick anyway.

More at source: Daily Herald

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A janitorial services provider for Virginia Commonwealth University is laying off 134 workers, but the replacement custodial contractor hopes to hire those workers.

Southeast Service Corp.’s contract to provide cleaning services on VCU’s academic campus, including dormitories, ends Jan. 31. According to a letter notifying the Virginia Employment Commission of the layoffs, one full-time supervisor and 133 custodial workers are losing their jobs.

The new custodial contractor, Phoenix-based Olympus, hopes to hire those workers, said Olympus vice president Joshua Woodworth.

More at source: Richmond Times Dispatch 

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Brain Corp announced today it has entered into a relationship with Walmart to provide AI services and additional floor-cleaning robots to the world’s largest retailer.

The company’s BrainOS platform currently automates more than 100 of Walmart’s fleet of commercial floor scrubbers across the U.S. The companies said Walmart expects to have 360 BrainOS-powered floor-cleaning robots in its stores by the end of Jan. 31, 2019.

The BrainOS provides the floor-cleaning robots with autonomous navigation and data collection capabilities, tied into a cloud-based reporting system. The scrubbers lets store associates quickly map a route during an initial training ride, and then activate autonomous floor cleaning at the press of a button. With multiple sensors to scan surroundings for people and obstacles, Brain said this system provides “the industry’s highest level of safety and performance.”

More at source: Robotics Business Review

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A total of 139 contract workers who provide housekeeping and janitorial services at Chippenham Hospital and Johnston-Willis Hospital are being laid off.

The workers are employees of Wayne, Pa.-based Crothall Healthcare.

A Crothall Healthcare spokeswoman confirmed the company’s contract with Chippenham and Johnston-Willis hospitals was not renewed.

The hospitals are operated by HCA Virginia.

Crothall Healthcare notified the Virginia Employment Commission of the layoffs on Thursday.

More at source at: Richmond.com

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