Two schools in southern Maine were closed Monday due to flu outbreaks.
The superintendent for MSAD 6, Paul Penna, says he made the decision to call the day off for Edna Libby Elementary in Standish so the school could be disinfected after a rising number of flu cases.
“On Friday we actually had 35% of students in a school of 280 students,” he says. “It’s unusual but it was I think the right decision to make for that particular school.”
He says classrooms are being be disinfected, and on Tuesday, school will alter how it distributes food to limit student-to-student contact.
Sanford Christian Academy was also closed for the day. In a Facebook post, school officials said that flu has spread rapidly among its students and that healthy teachers would disinfect classrooms while sick students and staff stay home and rest.
According to the Maine Center for Disease Control, flu is widespread throughout the state, with more than 3,000 cases reported and 10 deaths. It also says it’s not too late to get the flu shot.
