"Norovirus Outbreak Forces Closure of St. Michaels Catholic School in Livonia"
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St. Michaels Catholic School in Livonia cancelled classes and after-school activities from Feb 9 to Feb 14 due to a norovirus outbreak.
Co-principal Kathy Nold wrote in a message to families that the health department has praised the school for closing quickly to stop the spread of the illness.
1The norovirus outbreak started on Monday, with students beginning to feel sick and vomiting in classrooms.
The school experienced a rolling incidence of students throwing up, with siblings also starting to show symptoms.
On Wednesday, almost a dozen students vomited in class and several staff members have also fallen ill.
The school was not equipped to handle a schoolwide outbreak, leading to the decision to cancel classes until Feb 14.
Classes will resume on Feb 15 at their normal time.
Norovirus is highly contagious for at least three days after a person recovers from symptoms, and is easily passed through direct contact, contaminated food or water, or contaminated surfaces.
Outbreaks are common from November to April.
The school's maintenance staff will disinfect classrooms and common areas, sanitize affected carpets and floors, and follow safety procedures for waste disposal during the closure.
“Battling the Norovirus Outbreak: Your Guide to Understanding and Preventing this Contagious Disease”