Now FOUR Leeds schools will be closed next week due to Norovirus outbreak
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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Hide AdMorley 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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Hide Ad"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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Hide AdThe 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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Hide AdBurley 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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Hide Adeat 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.