The districts of Roland, Cameron, Wister and Maryetta in Oklahoma have announced that they would organize virtual learning days on Friday, while others warned against increasing disease.
Greenwood, Arkansas – Arkansas and Oklahoma schools closed or transferred to virtual learning during last week while flu and absent rates.
Essricts of Essusage, Cameron and Maryetta of Oklahoma became virtual Thursday and Friday, Roland joining the group on January 31.
The Gans district released Tuesday and Wednesday for virtual learning, and central public schools took a virtual day only a week ago.
In Arkansas, the Mansfield school district and the Fort Smith’s creative arts Institute completely finished on Friday.
All schools have cited the increase in disease levels among students and staff as a reason to close or become virtual.
Other districts, such as Paris and Lamar, begged parents to keep the students at home until they are without symptoms.
Dr. Upton Siddons, doctor of the Baptist Health Family Clinic in Greenwood, said that school closure could be a useful measure.
“I think there is a lot of use in the closure at certain times,” said Siddons. “They are in a large dining room. They share a gymnasium. They go through the corridors. They see all their friends, and these are certainly areas in which there are many opportunities for a virulent disease such as flu to infect a bunch of children at the same time. »»
Lori Wiggins with Roland’s public schools said that Friday, the district “devoted the day to thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting all buildings and buses to help reduce the spread of the disease”.
Wiggins added that they have seen an increase in influenza and pneumonia cases among students and staff. She said the goal was to create a safer and healthier environment for everyone.
According to the Arkansas Department of Health, school absenteeism throughout the state reached 9.64% on January 25, an increase of almost 2% compared to the previous week.
The ministry has identified the counties of Sebastian and Crawford as among the hardest affected areas of the State.
“From about two weeks ago, we started to see a strong increase in type A flu and in late last week and during this week, this is even stronger,” said the Dr Siddons. “Just from the top of my head, probably a third of the patients I have seen every day were diagnosed with the flu.”
The Arkansas Health Department (ADH) noted that the state is experiencing high levels of flu -like diseases. In neighboring Oklahoma, the Ministry of Health reported a positivity rate of 34.3% for the flu.
Local pharmacies also feel tension. Julie Stewart, pharmacist at Medical Arts Pharmacy in Fayetteville, shared that the demand for influenza drugs was high.
“We noticed a few days ago that we could not get Xofluza for a few days,” said Stewart. “I think it is replenished, but now some of Tamiflu’s options, especially the liquid for children, have become more difficult to obtain. We have a fairly good stock.”
While schools continue efforts to disinfect campuses and help students and staff recover, Dr. Siddons shared advice on staying healthy during the epidemic.
Siddons highlighted the importance of hand washing, sleeping enough, eating a balanced diet and remaining hydrated.
“And it is never too late to get a flu vaccine,” he added.
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