LONGVIEW, Texas — With school back in session and students back in the classrooms, that means a higher risk for spreading germs.
Nurses at Longview High School said there is an increased risk for illnesses during the back-to-school season. They are sending roughly four to five kids home per day due to some sort of illness, including strep throat, COVID-19 and even the stomach flu.
Those germs can linger all over campus. According to a study from Lysol, the top five hot spots for germs are:
- Restroom door
- Cafeteria trays and lunch boxes
- Desks
- School supplies
- Drinking fountains
"Doorknobs, pens and pencils that other kids are picking up, sharing the cell phone is really, really dirty," Longview ISD nurse Kimberly Dans said. "So the kids really need to be disinfecting their phones, wiping them down, and then making sure before they eat or put their hands near their face that they're washing their hands."
The number one thing that Dans suggests is to practice proper handwashing techniques and keep sanitizer handy.