Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, decided to revoke the school closure after spring breaks. (Image via Republika)

Abe: School reopens after Spring breaks

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Social & Life
Educations
Mar 21, 2020
1975
The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, said that it would not extend the school closure across Japan amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the land. Therefore, classes will begin in Japan’s new academic year in April. Japan’s Minister of Education, Koichi Hagiuda, confirmed the news on Friday.

Previously, Abe requested school closure in February, forcing parents, working from home, to do a balancing act between doing their job and caring for their children.

Abe gave the instruction to the Education Ministry to reopen classes after a spring break, through early April when he spoke at a meeting of a government task force on fighting the COVID-19.

While the classes may continue, the Japanese government’s policy is still the same toward mass gatherings and events. Abe reminded the organizers of major events, requesting them to assess whether such gatherings are necessary, in order to prevent any human-to-human transmission.

So far, the Japanese medical experts said that the nation has avoided any surge in infection cases. However, Japan might see “overshooting”, an increase in infection, in urban areas of Japan.

Hagiuda said that the Ministry will compile the guidelines early next week on resuming classes.

Currently, Japan recorded over 1,600 cases, including 700 cases from the quarantined cruise ship, Diamond Princess. From 47 Japanese prefectures, Hokkaido, Tokyo, and Osaka are the hardest-hit. Medical experts reminded that the elderly are more likely to develop severe symptoms.

In late February, the panel of medical experts requested Abe to cancel, postpone, or scale down the large sports and cultural events until the end of spring breaks.

Source: https://bit.ly/2QAduUc

Politics , Regulations , Education , Asia , Japan , COVID-19 , Shinzo-Abe