SAPPORO (Kyodo) -- In an effort to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, the education board of Hokkaido will urge local authorities on Wednesday to temporarily close all 1,600 public elementary and junior high schools in the prefecture.
Hokkaido has confirmed a total of 35 people infected with the pneumonia-causing virus that originated in China. As of Tuesday, Japan had 862 people infected with the virus, including 691 who had been quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
