The Times-Independent

Schools went remote 2 days to hobble norovirus outbreak

HMK averaged 17% absence rate as health department warned of broader spread


The Grand County School District adopted remote learning Friday and Monday to slow an outbreak of norovirus, an extremely contagious disease that causes vomiting and diarrhea.

The Southeast Utah Health Department recommended a two-day remote learning period to stymie a surge of norovirus.
Courtesy image

Superintendent Taryn Kay announced the remote learning period May 18 at the recommendation of the Southeast Utah Health Department, which had confirmed the surge of a gastrointestinal illness to be norovirus.

“During this remote learning period, teachers will provide students with work through Canvas, Google Classroom, or through work sent home for our youngest learners,” read Kay’s statement. “Information about your child’s remote learning will come directly from their teacher(s).”

All school activities also became remote except for the weekend’s state track championships and Monday’s senior river trip.

“Other than those two events, all school activities are moving to a remote status for May 19 and May 22,” Kay continued. “No students or staff, with the exception of maintenance and custodial staff, will be allowed in any GCSD building on Friday or Monday.”

Schools returned to in-person learning Tuesday, May 23.

“We have an exciting last two weeks of school planned and we want to make sure everyone is as healthy as possible to finish the school year strong,” Kay wrote.

Kay said the Helen M. Knight Elementary School averaged a roughly 17% absence rate last week.

Heath department spokesperson Brittney Garff said as of May 23 the department had received 46 self-reported accounts of illness, but that it “definitely doesn’t give the whole picture” of the spread.

“That is always a bad representation because people typically don’t like to self-report,” Garff said.

Norovirus is an extremely contagious virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting and spreads when someone ingests tiny particles of human waste or vomit from an infected person.

It usually spreads when someone eats food or drinks liquids contaminated with norovirus; touches contaminated surfaces or objects and then puts their fingers in their mouth; or has direct contact with an infected person, such as by sharing utensils or food.

“Especially with the younger age group there isn’t as much rigorous hand-washing, and that’s really how this virus spreads,” said Garff.

The health department is still urging any students with symptoms — diarrhea, vomiting, nausea or stomach pain — to stay home until symptoms have abated for 48 hours.

“Even if [students] just have an upset stomach, please keep them home while they are feeling ill, as it is possible that they may vomit while at school,” reads a press release from the health department. “We also ask that if your child attending our schools have siblings in other schools (private schools, daycare, etc.), that you keep those siblings’ home from school if they are experiencing similar symptoms.”

To learn more about the virus, visit bit.ly/SEUHD-Norovirus

The health department had also been concerned about a broader community outbreak, especially if any infected students’ family members worked in food service. Garff cautioned that it’s extremely difficult to determine whether that was avoided.

“With 46 [cases] I don’t think we can assume that there’s huge, wide spread, although you never really know,” she said.
Still, she thanked the school district for closing.

“We think it was a good decision for sure to help get those schools cleaned,” Garff said. “And trying to … slow that down and hopefully finish out the school year, these next two weeks, without any further problems.”