Over Two Thirds of Canadians Would Leave Home While Sick, Making Public Spaces Ideal Environments for Catching Flu: Poll

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario – Each year, approximately 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths in Canada are caused by the flu.

According to a recent survey commissioned by Cintas Canada, Ltd. (NASDAQ: CTAS), many Canadians could be putting themselves and others at risk for catching the flu. The survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,046 Canadian adults ages 18 and older, reveals that 68 percent of Canadian adults would leave their homes while sick.

According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, 80 percent of common infections are spread by hands.

Therefore, leaving home while sick can transfer these germs to other people or surfaces. Of the nearly seven in 10 Canadian adults who would leave their homes while sick, nearly one in four (24 percent) would go to work and 26 percent would patronize a retail store. As may be expected, 89 percent would visit a doctor’s office.

To help reduce the spread of germs this season, consider:

• Keeping hand soap and sanitizers stocked and easily accessible
• Ensuring restroom equipment and fixtures like dispensers and faucets are always functioning
• Promoting frequent and proper hand washing with warm soap and water
• Regularly disinfecting high-touch surfaces such as door handles, countertops, desks, phones and shopping carts
• Organizing a vaccination event to help protect employees from the flu
• Encouraging workers to remain home when illness strikes

It’s important for businesses to offer reliable hand hygiene solutions and to maintain their facilities properly to facilitate the maintenance of a healthy environment for building guests and workers.

This survey was conducted online within Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Cintas from January 17-18, 2018 among 1,046 Canadian adults ages 18 and older, among whom 702 would leave their home while sick. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.