CONYERS, Ga. — Students of one metro Atlanta school will be sitting home on Monday due to an illness spreading among students and faculty.
Shoal Creek Elementary School confirmed late Friday that it will not reopen until at least Tuesday because of widespread reports of gastroenteritis among the school population.
"We are working closely with the Rockdale County Health Department to limit the impact of this illness," the school wrote in a statement on its website. "Health officials tell us that illnesses are likely due to norovirus which can cause nausea, diarrhea and/or vomiting."
School officials hope that closing school on Monday will allow the illness to run its course - and not continue to spread among students and employees.
While the school plans to reopen on Tuesday, the message to parents asked them to keep sick children home until they are "free of vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours without medication."
The school is also encouraging students to wash their hands often - particularly before eating and after using the restroom.
The Monday closure will be at least the second one of 2019 for the school, which, along with Pine Street Elementary School, was closed in March due to a norovirus outbreak.
Anyone with questions about the illness should contact their child's physician or the Rockdale County Health Department at 770-339-4260. An epidemiologist should be on call and be able to provide more information.
Norovirus symptoms
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain are the most common symptoms. However, stomach flu can also lead to fever, headache and body aches.
Norovirus can also cause dehydration due to loss of fluids. That condition can add symptoms such as a decrease in urination, dry mouth and throat and feeling dizzy when standing up.
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