Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Due to widespread case of the flu, dozens of schools have announced they are closing on Friday to allow community members time to rest and recover.Why It MattersThe flu continues to spread, affecting students, teachers and school staff this month.Over the last few weeks, flu and other illnesses have forced schools across the country to temporarily close in an effort to isolate cases, curb the spread, maintain staffing levels and deep clean classrooms.What To KnowMany schools, struggling to properly staff amid a surge in flu cases and maintain student attendance, are closing for a long weekend, with some shifting to virtual learning. In their statements, schools noted the numerous absences and “excessive” sickness that have impacted their communities.The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show an increase in flu illnesses, with only a few states reporting low numbers. A surveillance report with updates through January 25, 2025, found that 38,255 patients were hospitalized with influenza that week.Preliminary data from the CDC show that since October, there have been between 20 million and 35 million flu illnesses in the U.S., resulting in an estimated 11,000 to 53,000 deaths.Newsweek reached out to the CDC for comment via email on Thursday evening.
An unmarked school bus dropped students off at Shaw Visual and Performing Arts elementary school, a St. Louis Public school, on October 14, 2024, in St. Louis.
An unmarked school bus dropped students off at Shaw Visual and Performing Arts elementary school, a St. Louis Public school, on October 14, 2024, in St. Louis.
Blythe Bernhard/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP
Schools have previously closed this month to maintain staffing levels and prevent further spread of the virus, a practice West Independent School District in Texas implemented last week. In Ohio, St. Hilary School closed on Tuesday, writing that “over 20 percent of students and 15 percent of staff out due to illness.”Here are some of the schools that have announced closures for tomorrow, spanning at least four states.Louisiana ClosuresEvangel Christian AcademyMissouri Closures Saint Brendan Catholic School of MexicoTexas Closures Neches Independent School DistrictTennessee Closures Tennessee has some of the highest rates of flu activity in the country right now, with the most recent report finding more than 9 percent increase in outpatient visits due to influenzas. The state is one of a handful that are reporting “very high” influenza activity levels.Many of the closed Tennessee schools announced they were shutting their doors for both Thursday and Friday due to “illness.”Blount County SchoolsClaiborne County SchoolsDickson County SchoolsHamblen County SchoolsHeritage Christian AcademyKnoxville Catholic High SchoolLincoln County SchoolsLebanon Special School DistrictSacred Heart Cathedral SchoolSt. Mary’s School in Oak RidgeUnion County SchoolsWhat People Are Saying Evangel Christian Academy said in a Wednesday Facebook post: “We have been hit hard with the flu bug, stomach bug, and other “bugs” on this campus. It has impacted our faculty and staff badly. I am not able to safely staff the next two days. Therefore, we will be closing our campus Thursday, February 6, and Friday, February 7.”Tennessee’s Giles County Schools said on their website: “Due to extensive sickness among our students and staff, Giles County Schools will be closed on Thursday, February 6th and Friday, February 7th.”Lebanon Special School District wrote on their website: “After careful consideration, LSSD will be closing due to a significant number of staff, including teachers and bus drivers, being absent due to illness. At this time, absences are impacting our ability to maintain normal school operations. In addition, we have seen a large percentage of students out due to sickness as well. In an effort to break the cycle of illness and prevent further spread, we will close for three days beginning tomorrow, February 5… We will return to school on Monday, February 10.”Cory Hines, Superintendent of Neches ISD, said in a Wednesday statement: “In the past ten days, Neches ISD has seen an unbelievable amount of absences due to sickness. This trend has only gotten worse over the past couple of days, with record low attendance. With a looming Winter break next week, we have made the decision to close NISD for the next two days (Feb 6 and Feb 7), to allow our families time to get healthy and our staff to thoroughly clean our facilities.”What Happens Next Typically, peak flu activity occurs between December and February.
