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Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido eyes shutting down schools to contain virus

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2020-02-26 16:18:08Xinhua Editor : Li Yan ECNS App Download
Special: Battle Against Novel Coronavirus

The education board of Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on Wednesday urged local authorities to close all public elementary and junior high schools in the prefecture in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The education board has encouraged local authorities to close schools from Thursday, with the shutdown affecting as many as 1,600 public elementary and junior high schools.

Among the 35 people confirmed to be infected with the virus in Hokkaido are students, a teacher and a school bus driver.

Adding to concerns of the virus spreading in the region, the local government on Wednesday said that one person infected with the virus in Hokkaido has died.

Government officials in Hokkaido said that the mass-closure of public elementary and junior high schools is expected to last for several days.

High schools in Hokkaido are exempt from the shutdown. Officials said the students are considered old enough to be able to take their own precautionary measures to protect against the virus.

The central government's guidelines require local authorities to consider shutting down classes at schools and closing day-care facilities, even in places where no infections have been recorded.

Education boards of Hokkaido and Sapporo have urged all schools to take additional preventative measures, including shortening the duration of the upcoming graduation ceremonies or restricting the number of people allowed to attend.

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