GALVESTON, Texas — Galveston County health officials extended their stomach virus advisory after reported illnesses climbed to 83 across six schools, including Seawall Bay Middle School. The extension keeps the county’s heightened guidance in place as cases continued to rise.

Public Health Officer Marcus Novak said the county is asking families to keep students home when they are sick and to focus on thorough handwashing and cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. School nurse Paloma Whitfield said staff at Seawall Bay Middle School were reinforcing those steps with students and families while monitoring new illness reports.

The advisory’s extension is the county’s latest response to the outbreak, with health officials continuing to track reports from the six affected schools as the case total reached 83.