Officials in Montgomery, Prince George's and Anne
Arundel counties yesterday announced extended
closures of three schools to isolate children exposed
to likely cases of swine flu, urging students in
those schools to avoid public places and warning of
more potential shutdowns in the days
ahead.
Nationwide, at least
434 schools in 18 states had shuttered yesterday to
prevent the spread of the flu, leaving more than
245,000 students home, according to the U.S.
Education Department. The closure total was up more
than 40 percent from Thursday. Federal officials
said they expect a further increase and encouraged
teachers to prepare materials to send home with
students.
Locally, new cases were identified at George
Washington University in the District and in Charles
County, bringing to 17 the tally of probable or
confirmed cases of swine flu across Maryland, the
District and Virginia. Maryland authorities reported
67 additional possible cases awaiting further
testing.
Public school
officials are accustomed to shutting down for the
occasional snowstorm. Now they face an extended closure
dictated by health officials, who want schools emptied
until the illness has run its course. More school
closures seem highly likely. Questions loom about how
much illness might trigger the shutdown of an entire
school system, a measure taken in Fort Worth. What
might prompt such a determination here is "too hard to
say at this point, because we haven't had this
situation before," said Mary Anderson, a Montgomery
health spokeswoman.
The school hiatus threatens to disrupt the highly
regimented schedule of public instruction. Rockville
High students will sit for a scheduled SAT today in an
isolated room at a nearby middle school rather than on
their own campus. But what of the athletic contests and
Advanced Placement tests scheduled for next week?
Students in the Anne Arundel and Prince George's
schools were soon to take a state science assessment.
Students at all three schools might have to make up
lost class time during the summer.
"I want to get back in school so I can get the year
over and graduate," said Robert Kirker, a senior at
Rockville High.
A more pressing concern is whether students at the
afflicted schools will heed the near-quarantine urged
by health officials, who are worried that contagion
could spread to shopping malls and movies. "Please do
not go to the mall and congregate. Please stay home,"
said Ulder Tillman, Montgomery's health officer,
addressing Rockville students at a news conference.
