Every time Covid lockdowns are lifted and everyone tries to get back to business or return to work, it will be required to address different types of problems that have taken roots during the lockdown period. This includes getting rid of pests that have made the empty buildings their home and caused potential damage.
Potential Pest Problems After Lockdowns
It has always been important to proof your property against pests, but the need and risks have significantly increased during times of closure. Since buildings are empty during the period, there is a lack of food and pests are forced to look elsewhere. This means they are drawn to new homes. Then, there is the problem of your building being left unmaintained. This can cause deterioration, thus creating possibilities for pests to gain easier access. A lack of supervision or control measures can cause escalation of infestations.
Key Points About Covid Lockdowns & Pest Infestations
There are many facets to the pest problem that arise after every Covid-19 lockdown.
- As more people spend their time at home, they are likely to have more frequent pest encounters than normal. This is because you spend more time at home than at your workplace.
- A large number of properties are left abandoned. This includes:
- Offices
- Restaurants & bars
- Hotels
- Educational institutions
This means these properties receive lesser maintenance. Since they are not used for long, such properties may develop pest problems that can escalate greatly. Some of the common problems include infestation of rodents and German cockroach.
Most Commonly Affected Facilities
The Covid-19 pandemic caused almost all types of staff furloughed, causing offices, restaurants, local council buildings, social housing, and educational institutions being mostly abandoned and not receiving regular checks. Some of the facilities that have been mostly affected by this include:
- Restaurants & Bars: Cafes and restaurants gave up on periodic maintenance services during the pandemic, not just due to lockdowns, but also due to financial constraints. The lack of regular pest control services led to pest infestations. Bars and restaurants without regular cleaning staff became high-active areas for pests, especially rats and cockroaches. The food storage, food waste, and damp conditions create ideal conditions for heightened pest activity. Pest infestation can create serious health and safety challenges when the facilities are reopened.
- Offices: As most people worked from home during the lockdown, office buildings have mostly been left empty. Lack of human activity and regular maintenance attracted pests. There are many hiding places in offices, including cabinets, desks, bathrooms, and kitchen facilities. Rats can gnaw on wires, wasps can make nests, and there can be unpleasant odour.
Residents Avoided Tradesmen Services
The Covid lockdown period was unique in that many residents avoided almost all kind of tradesmen services. People avoided contact due to the fear of infection. Besides, many missed or postponed their annual or semi-annual pest services because of financial challenges. All these factors contributed to the creation of pest problems and further escalation. This not only created pest issues for such homeowners, but potential problems for their neighbouring properties.
Deserted streets and empty buildings create the perfect environment for rodents and other pests to thrive. Mice and rats are the most common concerns, as they become bolder due to lack of human activity. Given the change of conditions during times of lockdowns, the lifestyle pattens of these rodents also undergo changes. They become increasingly visible in areas of greater human population. Since there is a lack of food waste, they tend to move closer to human settlements, thus increasing sightings.
Whatever type of organisation you may have, post-lockdown professional pest inspection is essential. At Sydney Pest Crew, we provide a full-range of pest controls services for both commercial and residential properties. Give us a call at 0415 682 988 for more information or write to us and we will get back to you at the earliest.
