Some Beaver County school students will work remotely this week after at least 50 students fell ill last week.
Hopewell Elementary School students will receive virtual instruction Monday through Thursday ahead of the holiday break.
Dr. Jeff Beltz, Hopewell Area School District superintendent, said the incident started Thursday when about 20 students left school through the day with similar “gastroenteritis” symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu, can include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting and sometimes fever.
Beltz said families were notified and it was left up to them whether to send students Friday.
On Friday, 130 students were absent and another 30 left school displaying gastroenteritis symptoms.
He said the state Department of Health has been notified and an investigation on ongoing.
Hopewell Elementary is the only school affected at this time.
The district posted a letter to families with more information.
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