Another Medford school closes over suspected norovirus outbreak

St. Joseph School in Medford canceled classes until Thursday after a “significant” number of students were sent home Monday with stomach bug symptoms, the school’s spokesperson said Tuesday.

A letter sent to parents said the school would cancel classes and EDP to stop the illness from spreading before the holidays. 

The time off will be used to “deep clean and sanitize the school,” the letter said. 

On Monday, 20 percent of the school’s students were absent, according to Terrence Donilon, secretary for communications and public affairs of the Catholic Schools Office.

Donilon said there is no confirmation if the stomach bug is norovirus, and school will be back in session on Thursday.

Classes were initially set to resume on Wednesday, but school officials extended the cancellation by another day for a professional cleaning company to disinfect the school, Donilon said.

He said if the stomach bug is confirmed to be norovirus, a professional level of cleaning is appropriate.

Last week, Roberts Elementary School in Medford closed for two days after more than 130 students were absent from a suspected norovirus outbreak.  

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