HealthWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / KCBS / AP / BCN) ― The federal government on Tuesday said it was no longer recommending that schools close because of the H1N1 swine flu virus, prompting most Bay Area schools to schedule to reopen Wednesday -- days sooner than expected.

Tamalpias High School in Mill Valley, for instance, was to have resumed classes on Thursday, but announced that classes would begin Wednesday. Bahia Vista Elementary in San Rafael had already reopened on Tuesday.

In Santa Clara County, all schools that were closed were set now to reopen Wednesday instead of next week, including Branham High School in San Jose, Challenger School's San Jose campus, Daves Avenue Elementary in Monte Soreno, Delphi Academy in Santa Clara, Ruskin Elementary in San Jose and two preschools, the Sunshine School and Elan Espirit.

In Contra Costa County, the five elementary schools already closed would reopen Wednesday, spokeswoman Kate Fowlie said. Those included Coyote Creek Elementary in San Ramon, Highlands Elementary School in Pittsburg, Brentwood Elementary School in Brentwood, Lone Tree Elementary in Antioch and Shore Acres Elementary in Bay Point.

Two new probable cases were reported Tuesdat at schools in Brentwood and San Ramon, officials said, but both schools would remain open.

Berkeley's Malcolm X Elementary School would also resume classes Wednesday, according to the city's public health division.

Last week, schools were advised to shut down for as long as two weeks if there were suspected cases of swine flu. As many as 16 Bay Area schools at one point, and hundreds more around the country, followed the federal government's guidance and closed down — giving students an unexpected vacation and leaving parents scrambling for child care.

"We no longer feel that school closure is warranted," said Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the swine flu virus had turned out to be milder than feared and the federal government decided to change its advice. So far, the virus has not proved to be more infectious or deadly than the seasonal flu.

Sebelius said parents should still make sure to keep sick children with flulike symptoms at home for seven days.

Across the Bay Area, educators noted they would remain vigilant for signs of flu among the student body.

The Solano County Board of Supervisors declared a local state of emergency Tuesday, after one probable swine flu case tested negative, and another probable case was identified. Alameda County has also announced a public health state of emergency, county health department spokeswoman Sherri Willis said.

The local emergency proclamation gives the public health department greater flexibility in how it uses it staff, according to Solano County health officials, and could help the county be reimbursed if the federal government decides to mobilize funding for fighting the virus.

A Complete List of School Closures by County

Marin County
Tamalpais High, Mill Valley Reopens May 6

Alameda County
Malcolm X Elementary, Berkeley Reopens May 6

Contra Costa County
Coyote Creek Elementary, San Ramon Reopens May 6
Lone Tree Elementary, Antioch Reopens May 6
Brentwood Elementary, Brentwood Rep Reopens May 6
Shore Acres Elementary, Bay Point Reopens May 6
Highlands Elementary, Pittsburg Reopens May 6

Santa Clara County
Ruskin Elementary, San Jose Reopens May 6
Challenger School, Strawberry Park campus, San Jose Reopens May 6
Branham High, San Jose Reopens May 6
Delphi Academy, Santa Clara Reopens May 6 
Daves Elementary, Los Gatos Reopens May 6

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