Advice for Businesses Reopening on the 4th of July

As per the new government advice issued on the 23rd June (.gov.uk briefing here) some establishments such as Pubs, Restaurants and Bars can reopen from the 4th of July whilst taking extra precautions and following guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

As we’ve witnessed over the past few months during the Coronavirus Pandemic, businesses have been forced to close and with the widespread practice of furloughing staff business premise may have been dormant for weeks or even months now.

Our 24/7 smart monitors have shown a significant increase in pest activity in recent weeks, while media outlets are covering the surge in pest activity as a result of lockdown.

As business owners are thinking about their plan to reopen sites and get back to daily operations as quickly as possible, here's our top 5 pest control tips for reopening on the 4th July and getting back to business:

1. ‍Look for signs of pest activity. Debris on countertops that may have been cleaned prior to closure. Droppings and food debris under cabinets is another sign of pest activity so check there too. If you find any activity, take measures immediately and call a pest control professional
2. Check all stored products for signs of damage. Pests will have been attracted to stored products as their regular food sources have dwindled during the lockdown. Throw out any products you suspect may have been damaged or contaminated.
3. Check your electronic fly killers. There may have been fly activity whilst the site was closed if your fly killer sticky board is full, be sure to request a replacement or empty the catch tray. This will help control the increase in flying insects as the weather gets warmer.
4. Check existing traps. If you have existing monitoring points check for debris outside the box and that they are still in place. You may also notice bad smells if something has been caught inside.
5. Look out for holes in bins. One area we've seen a huge increase is around waste bins, check bins for any signs of rodent activity such as holes and gnawing marks on the exterior. Bins close to your building could be providing easy access to shelter for rodents so move them away and ensure they are clean as they will also attract flies.

COVID-19 Safety Certification

Pest Pulse partners with hygiene and safety specialist, Food Alert, to create an integrated re-opening package, which includes a COVID-19 safety certification scheme.

Food Alert’s managing director, David Bashford, said:

“As hospitality operators gear up for re-opening next month, we have seen a spike in inquiries for our safety certification scheme. Consumer confidence is going to be key to success and operators need to make sure that their premises are safe.

Our partnership with Pest Pulse will offer clients a comprehensive hygiene and service offer, so they can remotely monitor pest activity, 24 hours a day, and take steps to tackle it before they open.”

Find out more about Food Alert's COVID-19 safety certification scheme.

Taking these measures and ensuring your site is ready for reopening using Food Alerts certification scheme ensures your business can get up and running as fast as possible on the 4th July. 

 🇬🇧 + 44 20 8089 9257 

🇮🇪 + 353 1 9015257 

📧 info@pestpulse.com 

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