Now FOUR Leeds schools will be closed next week due to Norovirus outbreak

Four Leeds schools will be closed for part of next week due to the Norovirus outbreak, it has emerged.
The Morley Academy, Fountain Street.The Morley Academy, Fountain Street.
The Morley Academy, Fountain Street.

The schools affected - The Farnley Academy, Richmond Hill Academy, Ryecroft Academy and The Morley Academy - are all run by The Gorse Academies Trust.

All will be closed on Monday and are expected to reopen on Tuesday - apart from Ryecroft Academy, which will be closed on Monday and Tuesday.

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Morley Newlands and Stephen Longfellow, also both Gorse academies, were closed on Thursday, and Thursday and Friday respectively.

A message on the Stephen Longfellow website said the school would reopen on Monday.

Parents at all schools have been advised that they will receive text messages - or should check the school's websites - for the latest updates.

Letters home to parents at Farnley and the Morley Academy read: "As you will likely be aware, across Leeds, the Norovirus is currently rife and is impacting on children and adults across the city.

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"We have reached a point today where we now believe that the virus is having such an impact on our student and staff population that in order to stop the spread of the virus, a full ‘deep clean’ of our premises is required.

"This afternoon I have been in contact with a professional cleaning company who will be attending our site this weekend in order to complete the ‘deep clean’.

"This clean will involve fully disinfecting all floors, walls and surfaces in order to ensure that any trace of the virus is removed. Unfortunately, owing to the size of our school site, the

deep clean will take longer than two days.

"As a result, I am writing to inform you today that [the school] will be closed to all staff and students on Monday 9 December 2019."

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The letter added: "In the event that you believe your child has the Norovirus, please follow professional advice in keeping your child at home for 48 hours following their last episode of illness.

"In addition, we would like to remind you that if anyone in your family exhibits symptoms, it is always advisable to seek the advice of a health professional or GP where

you have any concerns at all.

"We are grateful for the support and understanding of all of our families during this particularly unprecedented period and we hope that anyone that has been affected feels better soon."

Leeds City Academy, Leeds East Academy and neighbouring Parklands Primary, not Gorse schools, have also been forced to close for short periods over the past few weeks.

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Burley Oaks Primary School in Burley-in-Wharfedale also closed, as did Parkside School in Cullingworth, Bradford.

NHS advice on how to treat diarrhoea and vomiting:

Do:

stay at home and get plenty of rest

drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash – take small sips if you feel sick

carry on breast or bottle feeding your baby – if they're being sick, try giving small feeds more often than usual

give babies on formula or solid foods small sips of water between feeds

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eat when you feel able to – you don't need to eat or avoid any specific foods

take paracetamol if you're in discomfort – check the leaflet before giving it to your child

Don't:

do not have fruit juice or fizzy drinks – they can make diarrhoea worse

do not make baby formula weaker – use it at its usual strength

do not give children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea

do not give aspirin to children under 16

stay off school or work until the symptoms have stopped for two days. Also avoid visiting anyone in hospital during this time.

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