Polk County Schools moving to virtual learning Friday over flu and norovirus spike
Polk County Schools are shifting to virtual learning while the district deals with a spike in flu and norovirus cases.
The county says that more than 10% of the student population at each of its schools is sick from the flu or norovirus.
The district is going to use the virtual day to do a deep cleaning of its school buildings.
POLK COUNTY, Ga. - Polk County Schools are going virtual on Friday while the district deals with an outbreak of cases of norovirus and the flu.
County officials say all schools and facilities will be closed to allow for deep cleaning of buildings and help those affected have more time to recover.
By the numbers
Authorities say they have seen "excessive student and staff absences" due to the illnesses.
As of Friday morning, Polk County reports 761 students and 63 staff members are sick - 10% or more of the student population at each school.
What they're saying
"This decision is not made lightly and as always we will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our students, staff, and community," the Polk School District wrote on Facebook.
What's next
Extracurricular activities and after-school events will still go on as scheduled.
While the schools are closed, officials say all facilities will undergo a "comprehensive deep cleaning" to reduce the spread of the flu and norovirus.
Officials are asking families to keep a lookout for possible symptoms in their children and keep sick students at home until they are fever-free and show no symptoms.
Big picture view
The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 16 million illnesses, 190,000 hospitalizations, and 8,300 deaths from flu so far this season. Cases have been rising in January.
The CDC estimates that there are about 2,500 reported norovirus outbreaks across the country. Most outbreaks happen from November to April. The virus is responsible for almost 1 million pediatric medical care visits every year.
What you can do
U.S. health officials recommend that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccination, and they say it's not too late to get a shot.
You should also avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth because germs can spread that way, health officials say. You should also wash your hands with soap and water, clean frequently touched surfaces and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
The Source
Information for this study came from a Facebook post by the Polk School District, data about the flu and norovirus from the CDC, and additional reporting by the Associated Press.
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