The thought of spring brings much joy and a sense of a new beginning to many people. It gives people an opportunity to spend more time outside after a long, cold winter. Ice begins to thaw, trees begin to bud, and flowers start to blossom. For many properties, spring marks the beginning of the busy season as people begin to travel again now that the wintery weather starts to disappear. However, the spring season often marks the time when seasonal allergies start to act up. It can be difficult for people to determine whether the symptoms they have are either allergies or COVID-19. This blog will help determine the differences between COVID-19, the common cold, and allergies. This blog does not serve as a diagnostic tool, but it is intended to provide background information on these different illnesses. This blog will also discuss how certain hospitality products can help property managers protect against allergens.

COVID-19

COVID-19 is typically spread from one person to another through the transfer of bodily fluids mainly from coughing and sneezing. Symptoms may not begin to form for two days up to two weeks after the initial exposure. The following is a list of symptoms of COVID-19.

Loss of smell or taste
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Fever
Body aches and tiredness
Dry cough
Sore throat
Fatigue
Difficulty breathing
Stomach illness like vomiting or diarrhea

Common Cold

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The common cold targets the upper respiratory tract of the body which is usually centered around the throat or nose. It starts to show its symptoms one to three days after contracting the virus. Most people will recover in about seven to ten days.

Potential loss of smell due to congestion
Low fever
Body aches and tiredness
Coughing
Sore throat
Fatigue
Runny and stuffy nose
Frequent sneezing

Allergies

Allergies are the result of the immune system not properly responding to certain particles and organisms in the environment. Common allergic reactions people have are to mold and pollen. Allergies are not spread from one person to another. The following is a list of common symptoms associated with allergies.

Potential loss of smell or taste due to congestion
Coughing
Sore throat
Fatigue
Stuffy nose
Sneezing
Itchy and watery eyes and ears

What You Can Do

Mattress protectors and mattress encasements are two types of hospitality products that can protect against harmful allergens. Mattress protectors wrap around your mattress like a fitted sheet. This means that the entire mattress is not covered, but it can help protect against liquids, allergens, and bacteria. Mattress encasements are similar, but they wrap around the entire mattress which ensures maximum protection. To help better understand this, InnStyle has written a blog comparing the differences between mattress protectors and encasements. They are known to last longer than mattress protectors and can protect against bed bugs, liquids, allergens, and bacteria as well. Pillow protectors can also act as a barrier against allergens. Similar to mattress encasements and protectors, pillow protectors act as a barrier against harmful particles like allergens, liquids, and bed bugs which can harm the pillow. It is highly recommended to have these products on all beds to make sure your guests stay safe and healthy.

InnStyle is Here to Help You

It is important to make sure your property has the proper hospitality products to help protect against allergens and other illnesses like the COVID-19 and the common cold. InnStyle has products like mattress encasements and pillow protectors that can act as a barrier against allergens and other particles. They also offer a wide range of personal protection products to help promote cleanliness and reduce the spreading of illnesses including COVID-19. Please call InnStyle if you have any questions. They can be reached at 267-354-6020 or 800-877-4667. Their website is https://www.innstyle.com/.