A mass number of students from Manitou have been affected by a storm of four viruses going around across the world; these viruses include flu, COVID-19 and RSV and Norovirus, causing many students to get called out daily from MSHS due to illness.
Only 1 in 4 U.S. adults have the COVID vaccine, and less than 50 percent of Americans have the flu vaccine. Norovirus is incredibly hard to kill making it so hand sanitizer doesn’t affect Norovirus like it affects other viruses.
According to Julia Jackson, one of MSHS’s science teachers, the attendance for her class has been higher; however, it is not perfect attendance. “I’ve had at least two or three gone in each of my blocks this week,”Jackson said.
In order to keep herself and her students safe, Jackson takes precautions. “I constantly sanitize, wash my hands and keep a distance from students,”Jackson said.
She also takes the time to make sure she sanitizes her hands after touching students’ work and encourages students to do the same. “Seeing the kids taking it a little more seriously would be appreciated,” Jackson said. “This flu is bad.”
Jackson believes that if kids are feeling sick they should stay home until they know they are not contiguous. “They should prioritize their own health and make sure that they’re well enough to be in the building,” Jackson said.
Jackson talks about a student that was sick at the beginning of the semester but came in for a day to try and get some work done, the student ended up going home. “I think that’s a healthy balance, take care of yourself, but also protect the people around you,” Jackson said.
While other schools are reinstating the mask mandate and social distancing, Jackson believes that the mask mandate would be helpful. “It would help to protect the teachers at the least,” Jackson said.
Jackson does not however believe that social distance throughout the school would be helpful. “I don’t think that it would make much of a difference due to sport activities and how students socialize,” she said.
Catherine Albanese, MSHS Administrative assistant, has recently come down with a sickness. “I have body aches, a tingly throat, and I’m coughing a lot,” Albanese said.
Albanese recommends staying home when sick, but if you are not able to she encourages students to wear masks, wash their hands, and stay away from peers.
Albanese believes that it would be hard to require social distance throughout the school due to the way the students interact with each other, however she thinks that masks could be beneficial. “I think possibly wearing a mask would help other kids to not get sick,” Albanese said.
Jacqueline Revello, MSHS school nurse, was sick just last week. “I had a terrible cough, headache, sore throat, body aches, chills, fatigue,” Revello said.
Revello recommends taking care of your body to prevent sickness: “Things that support a strong immune system: healthy food, hydration, sleep, stress management,” Revello said.
On average Revello sees 5-10 students a day who don’t feel well. She recommends students stay home when sick, to prevent the spread of sickness.
“I also recommend washing hands frequently, social distancing and covering coughs and sneezes,” Revello said. “Please wear a mask.”
