Clark County schools to close again as virus confirmed in sick kids

The Clark County Combined Health District.

The Clark County Combined Health District.

South Vienna Elementary and Middle schools will be closed again Friday as the illness going around has been confirmed to be Norovirus.

Clark County Health Commissioner Charles Patterson said reports from the Ohio Department of Health labs confirmed what officials believed from the beginning.

RELATED: Clark County school believed to be hit by virus

“Luckily, if (patients) don’t have other issues, it usually resolves in a day to two and people get better,” Patterson said.

School officials said more than 100 hundred students were out sick Wednesday, which led them to close the school Thursday and again Friday.

Northeastern Superintendent John Kronour said it’s the first time the school has been closed this year. The district had additional cleaning crews scrubbing down the school.

Norovirus is one of the most common viruses in America, Patterson said, adding the average American will fall ill to it five times in their life.

READ MORE: Norovirus outbreak in Clark County schools: 5 things to know

South Vienna parent Mary Naughton said her 8-year-old daughter fell ill to the disease this week. She said as a precaution, she planned to hold her 6-year-old out of school until the outbreak is contained.

She hopes the community will support all the children who attend the school.

“Pray for the kids that are already sick and the ones who are going to be sick,” she said.

Patterson said the health district will continue its investigation at the South Vienna school building.

“We are going to work back through to see if we can find out where it started just to make sure there were no potential food services involved or anything like that,” Patterson said.

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