Flu seasons rarely follow a script. Last year’s season isn’t a roadmap for this one, and this year has already shown it: Canada passed the 5% flu-epidemic threshold in mid-October, about a month sooner than last year. Most of us spend a big part of our week at work, sharing desks, kitchens, elevators and commutes. When one person comes in feeling rough, it’s rarely just them who ends up feeling it. A few simple habits can help everyone get through the season feeling better, and this checklist covers them.
What’s different this year
In the week ending October 17, 6.1% of flu tests in Canada came back positive. In the same week of 2025, it was 0.8%. Experts say the season started about seven weeks earlier than usual. The main strain this year is influenza A(H1N1).
Some provinces got hit sooner than others. British Columbia was leading the country in flu activity in October, and Quebec’s public health authority warned its season might come earlier than usual. In Alberta, 18% of flu tests came back positive in the last week of October. In Ontario, cases are gradually rising week by week.
So if your office already feels like it’s full of sniffles, you’re not imagining it.
1. Get your flu shot
The simplest step comes first. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now available across the country. In Ontario, everyone six months and older has been eligible for a free flu shot since October 26. The province notes the vaccine takes about two weeks to become fully effective, so the sooner you book, the better.
There’s good news, too: early data suggests this year’s flu shot is a “really good match” for the strains going around.
Is your team getting theirs? A quick reminder in the group chat, or a buddy system for booking, can go a long way.
Masks and tests don’t replace your shot. They’re extra layers on top of it.
2. Know what you’re dealing with
You wake up with a scratchy throat and a headache. Is it a cold? Flu? COVID? It can be hard to tell. For tips on telling them apart, read our guide Allergies, Cold, Flu or COVID? How to Tell the Difference This Fall.
Worried about coming in today? Take a test first. A home test takes only a few minutes and can help you decide whether to head in, work from home or rest.
- The Ecotest 3in1 COVID-19, Flu A & Flu B Rapid Test Kit Combo checks for COVID-19, influenza A and influenza B with a single nasal swab, in about 10 minutes. It’s for ages 14 and up, and an adult should collect the sample for kids aged 2 to 14.
- For a COVID-only test, the Artron Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Test is made right here in Canada.
Keep a couple at home and one in your bag so you’re not hunting for a pharmacy when you already feel unwell. Not sure how to read the result? Here’s our explainer on the C and T lines on a rapid test.
A home test isn’t a diagnosis. Follow your local public health guidance, and see a health-care provider if your symptoms get worse.
3. Keep each other safe
Sometimes you’re not sick, but someone near you is. Or you feel mostly fine but have a lingering cough. Either way, a mask is an easy way to show you’re looking out for the people around you.
Want to keep your coworkers safe? Start on the commute. Crowded buses, packed subway cars and stuffy GO trains are where a lot of us spend the most time close to strangers. Our individually sealed KN95s are a great fit for transit: comfortable for the whole ride and easy to keep a few in your bag. If you’d rather not wear plain white, our Kind KN95 Colour Series comes in a range of colours.
At your desk or in meetings, a mask helps if you’re getting over something but still need to be in. If you’re around more people or want a closer fit, our Made in Canada N95s come in Small, Regular, Large and Kids. Getting the right size matters as much as the mask itself, because a good seal means less air leaking around the edges. If you wear an N95 as part of your job, ask your employer about fit testing.
Not sure which mask to choose? Our guide to the difference between ASTM and KN95 masks can help.
4. Make shared spaces a little cleaner
The office kitchen, the coffee machine, the shared keyboard at reception: these are the spots everyone touches.
- Keep hand sanitizer by the door and in the kitchen.
- Keep a box of nitrile gloves handy for cleaning shared spaces or handling food for the team.
- Wipe down shared surfaces a bit more often during flu season.
5. Stay home when you’re sick, and make it okay for others to do the same
This one matters most. Pushing through a workday with the flu doesn’t help anyone, and it can mean three more people out next week. If you’re sick, rest. If you’re a manager, say it out loud: “If you’re not feeling well, stay home.” Hearing it from you makes it easier for your team to actually do it.
When you’re ready to come back, follow your local public health guidance. A mask for the first few days back is a kind gesture to the people sitting near you.
Your flu season checklist
- Get your shot, and remind your coworkers to book theirs.
- Test before you go in if you’re not feeling right.
- Mask up on transit and around others when you’re under the weather.
- Keep shared spaces clean with sanitizer and gloves.
- Stay home when you’re sick, and support others who do.
Flu season showed up early this year, but a few small habits can help keep everyone healthier through to spring. Stock up on rapid tests and masks for home, your bag and your desk. If you’re ordering for a whole team, our bulk orders page makes it easy.
