Officials are promoting health prevention after an increase in illness throughout Western School Division.

Staff say there has been an increase in the number of students who've taken ill throughout the division over the past several days. Parents are asked to remind children to wash hands thoroughly and often, cover their cough and avoid sharing food, drinks and straws.

If your child is sick, parents are encouraged to take them to their family doctor or urgent care unit.

According to Southern Health, hand hygiene is crucial in stopping the spread of germs. It's also important to be aware of everything you touch in a single day, from a debit card to your cellphone, Southern Health officials say it's easy for germs on your hands to find their way into your mouth.