Charleroi Area School District Goes Remote Due to Flu Outbreak
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AP
Charleroi Area School District announced Thursday it is holding classes remotely for two days – Thursday and Friday – due to an influenza outbreak in the district.
The decision to go virtual was made after more than 80 elementary school students visited the nurse’s office Wednesday with symptoms of illness.
Charleroi Superintendent Dr. Edward Zelich said more than 30 of those students were sent home with fever and other symptoms.
Several were taken by their parents to the hospital, where they were diagnosed with the flu.
Student attendance dropped dramatically at the schools, Zelich said.
Zelich sent a message to parents noting the switch to remote learning “prioritizes the health and safety of our students, staff and families.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Thursday that flu cases are increasing across the state.
Pennsylvania registered 4,849 lab-confirmed flu cases during the week, up from 4,214 the previous week. The DOH notes that most people with flu don’t get tested, so those numbers don’t include the full number of flu illnesses in the state.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases also are surging, especially in children under 5 and adults over 65, the DOH said.
“It was surreal, how (the flu) hit this week. We saw our attendance decrease, and our cafeteria and custodial staffs were scarce because they were off sick, so we made the decision to (hold remote classes),” Zelich said.
Zelich said one elementary school student with flu-like symptoms passed out and struck their head when they fell backwards.
On Thursday, Zelich sent a letter to parents recommending they keep their child home from school if experiencing flu or cold symptoms, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, and congestion.
He also noted it is recommended that everyone 6 months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine.
In a respiratory illness-related matter, starting Dec. 20, all employees, patients and visitors to all UPMC health-care facilities will be required to wear face masks as a result of the increase in cases of flu, RSV and COVID-19.