East Tennessee schools close due to illness, disinfect

More than a dozen school districts across East Tennessee have closed school for the remainder of the week due to illness.

Knox, Campbell, and Anderson County are closed through the weekend along with several others. This gives schools the opportunity to clean and students the chance to get some rest. But classrooms aren't the only ones cleaning.

JLL Transport LLC is busy disinfecting schools buses.

"We'll end up doing every bus we have so we have a clean slate on Monday," John Llewellyn said. "Our big thing is to make sure our drivers are safe. If they're sick, then we have a problem getting your kids to school."

Lysol does the job on their 14 buses contracted to Knox County.

On the road, and in the classroom, staff are busy cleaning. With school closed, Child Creations in Powell is staying open as an option for parents who have to work.

"It's really hard and we understand that," Joanna Parsons, the assistant director, said.

She recommends parents make sure their kids are washing their hands. Parsons also told WVLT News that parents need to keep their kids out for more than 24 hours if they come down with the flu.

"One day is not enough. One day is not enough for their bodies to heal," she said.

Eight children have died from the flu in Tennessee so far this season, officials reported.

The Tennessee Department of Health said Tuesday three of the reported deaths were in the Middle Grand Division and five were in the East Grand Division, WTVF

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One of those deaths happened in Blount County. According to Foothills Funeral Home, Paloma Olivia Harris

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According to the UT Medical Center, the number of flu cases is higher this year compared to last year.

To learn more about the flu, including how to prevent it, go

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