Schools Start Break Early As Flu Spreads
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Winter break has started early for at least two Minnesota schools – but not for a good reason.
The districts say it's because so many kids and staff have the flu.
Visitation's Lower School in Mendota Heights said enough of its students are sick that they decided it's best to cancel classes Thursday and Friday. Middle and high school students will have class.
Then the Alden-Conger School District in southern Minnesota canceled classes for all grades, because about a fifth of its students and staff are sick.
State health officials are talking about ways to stop or slow down the spread of the virus.
The Mayo Clinic Health System announced Thursday it is implementing new restrictions at its hospitals to limit the spread of the flu and to protect patients and employees.
Those restrictions include that visitors are limited to immediate family members, only two visitors per patient at a time, and no one who is ill is allowed to visit.
Last year, peak flu season hit at end of the calendar year. Right now, officials say we still have not reached the height of flu season.
With Christmas break soon approaching, health leaders hope it will cut back on the number of cases.