Whether this flu season is worse than normal or even unprecedented, one fact is clear: outbreaks have closed schools and entire districts in several parts of the country.
Bullit County Public Schools was one of multiple Kentucky districts to shut down for portions of this week. The district closed Wednesday for the rest of the week due to many student and staff absences from illness.
Officials chose not to shift to remote instruction stating that “three consecutive days of remote instruction make it difficult to ensure meaningful learning experiences for our students,” the district announced on Facebook.
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Bullitt County schools also noted a substantial number of students and staff were too unwell to participate in “non-traditional instruction.”
Hardin County Schools shifted all of its schools to non-traditional instruction on Thursday and Friday. Oldham County Schools were also closed from Tuesday through Thursday.
The CDC estimates at least 20 million illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations and 11,000 deaths so far this flu season. As for the scope of illness, experts say this flu season resembles outbreaks before the pandemic, noting that the COVID era saw less severe flu seasons.
Illness is widespread again because the nation is experiencing a second peak, CBS News reported.
Schools closed in several states
The Newport Independent School District in Ohio moved to remote instruction on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In Tennessee, Lincoln County Schools were closed due to illness on Thursday and Friday. Houston County Schools canceled classes from Wednesday through Friday.
Several Texas districts, including Godley and Morgan ISDs, were closed the final week of January. Godley ISD said on Facebook that on Jan. 28, nearly 650 students and 60 teachers and staff were absent. Campuses reported attendance in the 70-80% range.
In the same week, more than a dozen districts in Missouri and another dozen in Oklahoma were closed because of widespread illness, according to local reports.
