Tokyo high schools to be closed through early May

Apr 02, 2020 | News On Japan

Apr 02, 2020 (NHK) - Education authorities in Tokyo have decided to keep metropolitan senior high schools closed through early May due to the spread of the new coronavirus.

Tokyo's board of education decided on Wednesday that the closure will continue through May 6, when the annual extended holiday period ends.

The schools are now in the spring break after they closed in March in line with Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's request.

The board says schools will hold enrollment and opening ceremonies on dates set by each school. But it adds the ceremonies will take place with precautions against infection in place and their scale reduced.

The board took into account a proposal from the central government's panel of experts. The panel said authorities should consider suspending schools in areas where the number of infections is on the rise.

Elementary and junior high schools are administered by municipal education boards. Tokyo's education authorities say they will call on municipal education boards to pay heed to the decision regarding metropolitan high schools and take utmost measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

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