By Joseph Latino

Pest control has been deemed an essential service by Homeland Security and the vast majority of states during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet concerns about social distancing and possible exposure to the coronavirus has significantly slowed, or stopped, treatments for public health-related structural pests, including bed bugs. This is especially worrisome as recent data suggests that bed bugs may contribute to asthma and breathing complications, leading to even more severe cases of COVID-19 for the 25 million asthmatics in the U.S.

Hotels throughout the country are repurposing to become centers for COVID-19 patients and frontline healthcare workers. We applaud these efforts. Unfortunately, the unforeseen consequence of this interim repurposing makes these properties even more vulnerable to bed bug infestations. With any influx of new occupants, there will be an increase in the number of bed bug introductions.