Norovirus schools close early for deep clean
Two primary schools in the Black Country have been closed after outbreaks of the winter vomiting bug.
Wednesbury Oak Primary and Glebefields Primary in Tipton have closed early to allow a deep clean to take place, according to Sandwell Council.
About 50 out of the 400 children at Wednesbury Oak have contracted norovirus, said the council.
Glebefields Primary has closed after about 70 of the school's 396 children were taken ill, a spokesperson said.
Head teacher at Wednesbury Oak Primary, Maria Bull, said Christmas parties had also been cancelled and would now be held in the new year.
The school is scheduled to open again on 7 January
Penny Thompson, head teacher at Glebefields Primary, said a deep clean of the school would be held over the next three days.
The school will reopen on 8 January, she said.
Sandwell General Hospital and City Hospital in Birmingham also remain closed to visitors because a number of wards at each hospital have been affected by norovirus.
At City Hospital, three wards are affected and at Sandwell, five wards are closed and a further three under observation.
But people can still visit critical care, paediatrics, maternity and the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre.
The hospital also urged people with diarrhoea or vomiting to avoid accident and emergency unless they need emergency treatment.