(WSIL) -- Five southern Illinois school districts have cancelled classes due to a high number of sick students and staff.
Hardin CUSD 1, , , and will all be closed Friday, February 7.
Pope County and Trico schools as well.
Pope County Assistant Superintendent Ryan Fritch told News 3 that on Tuesday, 153 of the district's 500 students were out sick.
It's a similar story in Hardin County where the school says 193 of its 500 students were absent Thursday.
Harrisburg Superintendent Mike Gauch says, not only were 185 students out sick Thursday, so were 30 staff members. Gaunch says the school was having trouble finding substitute teachers so administrators covered the classrooms.
In the Rome school district, superintendent Erik Estill said 62 students had called in or been sent home sick.
"We have had an increasing number of absences each day this week with confirmed Norovirus and influenza A and B cases," said Estill in a letter to parents and guardians.
All four schools are expected to be in session Monday.
