VERNON, Ala. (WTVA) - All Lamar County Schools in Alabama will be closed for the remainder of the week to prevent the further spread of the flu.

The school district made the announcement Tuesday shortly after noontime.

Students continued their normal school day schedule Tuesday and will not return until their normal time on Monday, Feb. 3.

School Superintendent Vance Herron said 400 students at South Lamar School did not attend school Tuesday. The school has approximately 700 students.

Twenty-two percent of students countywide missed Tuesday.

Because of the sickness going around, he’s not sure if it’s flu or strep throat, he made the decision to shut down all county schools after Tuesday in the hopes the attendance will be better on Monday.

The school district’s cleaning staff wiped down door handles, he said, but those workers will be through the buildings on the days the students are away.

If a child is running a fever, don’t send the child back to school until 24 hours after the child is fever-free without medication, Herron recommends.