Rising numbers of kids missing school as respiratory illnesses continue to spread
As children’s respiratory illnesses spike, some local schools are making urgent pleas for parents to keep their students at home if they are sick.
One school told families that any students with symptoms would be sent home.
A letter signed by the school nurse at Black Lake Elementary School in Tumwater was sent to families last Monday asking them to keep their students at home with “any symptoms of illness.”
“If your child is unwell to the point that you feel they need medication, they should not be sent to school,” the letter says. “Families of children who arrive at school with signs of illness will be contacted to come pick their student up.”
The letter noted too that there has been a significant increase in respiratory illnesses, including respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, as well as COVID-19 and influenza.
The letter sent home to Black Lake parents is “consistent with Thurston County Health Department guidance, during periods of elevated absences and reported illnesses,” according to Laurie Wiedenmeyer, director of communications and community relations for the Tumwater School District.
Attendance records for Black Lake Elementary obtained by McClatchy showed illness-related absences have tripled since the beginning of November.
Attendance numbers showed that on Nov. 3 only 31 students were absent due to illness, compared to 97 students on Nov. 17. No less than 96 students were reported absent at Black Lake Elementary throughout the week of Nov. 14-18.
Renae Miller, public information specialist for Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, told McClatchy they are aware of the situation at Black Lake Elementary, and noted that they are seeing elevated respiratory diseases in the community as a whole. She said the agency has been addressing situations as they arise.
Tumwater School District isn’t alone.
Kathryn McCarthy, the assistant director of communications for Tacoma Public Schools, told McClatchy that overall the district has seen a 3% increase in absences since the beginning of the school year, and that, anecdotally, school nurses have said those absences are a result of all the various illnesses going around.
On Thursday, the Olympia High School theater department was forced to cancel a show due to cast and crew illness.
Bellingham Public Schools has kids out with viruses right now, “but we would need more time to look at comparison data to judge whether absence rates are atypical for flu and cold season,” according to spokeswoman Dana Smith.
“Children should not attend school or daycare nor should they participate in any group activities when sick,” according to the Whatcom County Health Department website.
According to the Washington State Hospital Association this week, pediatric hospitals in the state are already seeing “a significant and early increase in respiratory illnesses, especially among children.” Half of all patients in the pediatric ICU are presenting with respiratory illnesses.
“These increases come at a time when hospital capacity across the state remains limited,” according to Beth Zborowski, a spokesperson for WSHA.
The Washington State Department of Health noted on its website that the flu has a much higher chance of spreading as pandemic restrictions are lifted. Limited travel, school closures, vaccination and masking all contributed to low flu activity in the last two years, they said.
DOH said the best protection against the flu is a yearly flu vaccine, in addition to other measures such as hand-washing and staying home when you are ill.
