An Iowa School Canceled Classes Due To Major Rise In Illness

"Yeah, it's going around," is thrown around a lot this time of year, but for one school in Iowa, it is really going around.

Regina Catholic Education Center put out a bulletin on their website last week, letting students, staff, and parents know that classes would not be happening on Thursday, February 5th or Friday, February 6th.

They cancelled the classes because there was such a large number of students sick in the school. According to the release sent to news stations, 240 students were sick among the K-12 students.

On Wednesday, 9% of preschool students, 11% of elementary students, and 40% of junior-senior high students were staying home from school sick. The 240 sick students accounted for just under a quarter of the total student population at 23% of the entire student body.

It wasn't mentioned how many falcuty members were sick, but surely that was a contributor to the decision as well.

"After consultation with Johnson County Public Health, we have decided to cancel classes to slow transmission, protect the health of students and staff, and allow for a deep cleaning of our facilities. School offices will remain open during this time," the school wrote on their website.

In addition to classes being cancelled, so were all rehearsals for bands, all mass services, all practices for athletics, and all games were postponed.

The school also asked that students not get together outside of school, even though there were no classes.

"During these two days, we ask families to work in solidarity with the school by avoiding social gatherings and allowing time for rest and recovery."

Read more at CBS 2