SCHOOLS REMAIN CLOSED

Southland Times, Issue 23141, 6 March 1937, Page 8

SCHOOLS REMAIN CLOSED

Extension Of A Week MINISTER’S DECISION Because of the number of cases of infantile paralysis, the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) has decided that all Southland schools will remain closed until March 15. Originally they were to open on March 1; a few days before that the date was advanced to March 8, and yesterday advice was received of a further week’s extension. The decision will apply to all schools, primary and secondary. Invercargill itself and the area served by the Southland hospital were free from any notification of infantile paralysis, either positive or negative, yesterday. FIRST CASE FOR A FORTNIGHT DEATH OF PATIENT AT WAIMATE (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH. March 5. The first case of infantile paralysis in the city for more than a fortnight was notified to the Health Department today. The patient, who is in the Christchurch Hospital, is a giri aged thirteen years. This notification brings the total number of cases. of infantile paralysis in Christchurch city since the outbreak to six. The first four patients have now been discharged cured. Although no notification has yet reached Dr Fletcher Telford, Medical Officer of Health for Canterbury, a report from Waimate states that one patient has died in the public hospital from infantile paralysis. He was a boy of eight years of age who was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday last. This is the second death from the disease in the Canterbury-Westland health district. FREEDOM FOR SOME WEEKS (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 5. “It seems to be quite dead here now,” said Dr T. J. Hughes, Medical Officer of Health in Auckland, when asked if there had been any further sign of infantile paralysis. Dr Hughes added there had not been even a suspicion of a case in the city for some weeks. FURTHER CASE IN OAMARU (United Press Association) OAMARU, March 5. A further case of infantile paralysis, a young man, aged 22 years, from the town area was taken to hospital yesterday.