kid with the tissue, he got a cold. Most infections come from the school

Influenza activity continues to increase in the United States and K-12 schools are taking action to prevent the virus’ spread.

For example, according to an article on KFVS12, Franklin Elementary School, as part of the Cape Girardeau School District, are correctly focusing cleaning and disinfecting efforts on high-traffic areas such as bathrooms, as well as frequently touched objects such as classroom tables and chairs, doorknobs and water fountain handles.

By cleaning and disinfecting, especially high-touch surfaces, custodians can reduce the spread of viruses by 80 to 90 percent.

The school’s custodial department even invested in electrostatic equipment to further disinfect surfaces. When the disinfectant is sprayed with this machine, the chemical wraps around surfaces, covering hard-to-reach spaces, undersides and backsides of objects.

Electrostatic equipment is great for infection control in many markets, but manufacturers especially see its usefulness in education facilities, according to a Sanitary Maintenance article.

“Think about surfaces that are missed in a classroom where pathogens can be hiding — around complex-shaped objects, underside chairs and desks, or around chair legs and table legs,” said Mike Tarvin, vice president of Multi-Clean, in the article. “There are a number of surfaces that need to be disinfected but are too hard to reach or are missed.”