RENO, Nev. (AP) — School custodians spent hundreds of hours disinfecting surfaces to stem a norovirus outbreak that eventually reached 19 schools.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports fall break is credited with separating students and keeping contagious carriers from spreading the virus, with Stead Elementary School and Sparks High School still on outbreak status.
Washoe County School District housekeeping operations manager Cindy Quaglia estimated a total cost of $180,000 for labor, extra supplies and contracting out to steam clean carpet.
Steam cleaning about 792,000 square feet of carpet cost roughly $103,000.
It took 140 people 2,279 hours to clean the schools from tabletop to pencil using an industrial disinfectant spray.
Norovirus symptoms include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. People can be contagious up to three days after they recover.