TOKYO -- Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday that he will ask all elementary, middle and high schools to close temporarily, starting Monday, March 2, as the government tries to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
"With children's health and safety as our top consideration, we need to prepare in advance against the infection risks posed by large numbers of children and teachers gathering together for long periods of time every day," Abe said at a meeting to deal with the virus.
