Norovirus Outbreak At Carver Elementary Leads To School Closure

LONG BEACH, CA — An active norovirus outbreak at Carver Elementary in Long Beach led the school to close all school and childcare activities from Friday to Tuesday, officials announced Thursday night.

City health officials said that the length of the closure is the most effective way to stop the virus from spreading to any more children, teachers or staff members. Carver Elementary will fully reopen on Wednesday, March 22 school officials said.

School officials said teachers may provide work for students to be completed at home as appropriate, but there will be no virtual lessons provided.

"We know that a sudden school closure creates challenges, and we apologize for the impact upon our families," school officials said in a letter to parents. "Your child’s health and the safety of our educational environment is of utmost importance to us."

Norovirus is highly contagious, according to the health department, and spreads primarily through direct and indirect contact with an infected person's feces or vomit. The virus causes sudden vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain.

Symptoms manifest between 12 to 48 hours after a person has come into contact with the virus and can last up to three days Long Beach Health officials said. There is no treatment for norovirus specifically, but the health department advised people who are sick to stay hydrated to replace fluids lost from vomiting and diarrhea.

"It is essential for the prevention and control of norovirus at George Washington Carver Elementary school, for all parents/guardians to monitor students and all staff to conduct self-monitoring for symptoms before school arrival every day," Long Beach Health said in a statement.

In the meantime, the health department said it is important to execute caution and keep surfaces clean and disinfected with a bleach and water solution or an EPA-approved disinfectant, as the virus can survive with some disinfectants. Officials also advised people to wash their hands frequently.

If a student is still experiencing symptoms when school is scheduled to reconvene, officials advised families to keep them at home and notify the school as soon as possible. A health screening process will be implemented Wednesday morning when students return, Carver Elementary officials said.