UPDATE: Seattle Public Schools spokesperson David Tucker has confirmed to CHS that Stevens is being closed because a student has fallen ill to what is believed to be H1N1 and attended class while sick this week. He said county health officials informed the district of the situation tonight and the decision was made to close for a week. Tucker could not provide information regarding any connections between the Stevens student and the ill 11-year-old Madrona Elementary student.
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No school tomorrow at Capitol Hill’s Stevens Elementary. And no school until next Friday, May 8. The Seattle Public School District announced this evening that Stevens will be closed through next Thursday due to concerns about the spread of H1N1 flu virus in the area. Stevens joins Madrona Elementary which was closed today for a week following the announcement that a 11-year-old student at the school had likely contracted the illness. Aki Kurose Middle School in Rainier Valley will also be closed starting tomorrow before reopening next Friday.
In the statement announcing the closure, the district did not say what prompted the Stevens closure beyond concerns of the general spread of the illness.
The district recommends students not ‘gather’ during the time that the school is closed:
For Madrona K-8, Aki Kurose Middle School and Stevens Elementary students and families: To avoid spreading infection, students should not gather outside of school during the week that school is closed. If students or staff do become ill, avoid contact with others and remain at home from work and school either for 7 days after illness starts or for a full day after the illness is over, whichever is longer. If your symptoms are more severe, call your health care provider to discuss if you need to be seen and evaluated, and tell them about the school closure for swine flu. We will keep you informed as more information is available.
Central District News has more details about the Madrona case and is reporting that two siblings of the infected 11-year-old also appear to have the flu. CDNews also reminds that while local officals believe these cases are likely the H1N1 virus, the CDC is yet to confirm the presence of the strain in any of the Washington State cases.
Meanwhile, the end of this Times article makes note of the Polyclinic’s preparation of a “flu-assessment center” and the Slog notes that it’s hard to find any hand sanitizer left on the shelves of Seattle stores.
