It’s just about that time of year where it seems like us and everyone around us is constantly sniffling, coughing, achy, and tired—that’s right, it’s almost flu season. While we are often reminded of preventative measures to avoid falling ill, such as frequent handwashing, minimizing close contact with sick individuals, incorporating immune-boosting foods into your diet, and looking into vaccines like Novavax booster news or Novavax booster shot registration. However, we often forget about the crucial piece of prevention, which is avoiding or taking precautionary measures around certain hotspots for respiratory illnesses. Certain surfaces are breeding grounds for bacteria of respiratory illness like the coronavirus, influenza, strep, and more. In order to keep yourself safe, keep in mind these hot spots for respiratory illnesses:

1. Keyboards

Keyboards, especially in shared workspaces or offices, can be breeding grounds for bacteria due to the tiny cracks and crevices that can trap germs from multiple users. If you frequently switch between computer stations or share a computer with others, it’s a good practice to keep sanitizing wipes nearby for everyone to use before and after using the keyboard.

2. Doorknobs and hardware

This likely won’t come as a surprise to you, but doorknobs and other hardware are a huge hotspot for respiratory illnesses. Public places often witness numerous individuals using the same door handles and hardware daily, not to mention public restrooms with their faucet handles, door locks, and toilet flush buttons. Unless these facilities implement rigorous sanitization routines, these surfaces can harbor a substantial number of germs, and don’t even get us started on elevator buttons. It’s advisable to wash your hands thoroughly often, carry hand sanitizer for added protection, try to push buttons or open door handles with your elbow where possible, or use a tissue or paper towel to cover your hand when handling certain hardware.

3. Gym equipment

You go to the gym to get fit and healthy, but you might leave with a respiratory illness. Fitness centers, gym equipment, and shared spaces like locker rooms are frequently touched and used by many people, easily harboring germs. To stay healthy while working out, bring your own towel or disinfectant wipes to clean equipment before and after use. Additionally, especially during peak flu season, it’s a good idea to maintain physical differences from others during gym sessions as well as washing your hands thoroughly post-workout to reduce your risk of infection.

4. Shared dishes, utensils, and glassware

Sharing dishes, utensils, and glassware is a direct way to transmit germs from person to person. Whether it’s flu season or not, you should always try to avoid sharing such items with other people. Ensure you wash your dishes thoroughly with soap and water, get your own plate of food or drinks whenever possible, or consider using disposable plates and cups to minimize the risk of germ transmission.

5. Your phone

Surprisingly, your phone might be the worst culprit of them all with a significant amount of bacteria. Think about it—you carry it everywhere, place it on various surfaces, touch it with unwashed hands, bring it to your face during calls, and handle it throughout the day. To minimize exposure to these bacteria, consider carrying disinfectant wipes or investing in a UV light phone sanitizer to clean your phone regularly.