Coronavirus: Japan to close schools nationwide

Tokyo - Schools will remain closed until spring holidays begin in late March.

Japan is announcing the closure of schools nationwide to help control the spread of the new Covid-19 coronavirus.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he has asked all elementary, middle and high schools to remain closed until spring holidays begin in late March.

The measure comes amid growing concern about the rise in the number of untraceable cases in northern Japan and elsewhere. Japan now has more than 890 cases, including 705 from a quarantined cruise ship.

Officials in Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido said earlier on Thursday that they were closing all 1,600 elementary and middle schools in the island prefecture, with the governor saying the coming one to two weeks are crucial in fighting the virus.