Japan to Start Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Early Next Month... No Extension of Nationwide School Closures

Koichi, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, "Prepare for the New Semester According to Local Conditions"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Major Japanese media reported on the 20th that the Japanese government decided not to extend the nationwide temporary school closure request for elementary, middle, and high schools, which began on the 2nd of this month.

According to reports from Kyodo News and NHK, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting of the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Response Headquarters at the Prime Minister's Office on the afternoon of the same day and instructed the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to prepare guidelines outlining precautions for resuming school activities from the start of the new semester early next month.

Koichi Hagiuda, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, told reporters after the meeting, "It has been confirmed that the (nationwide school closure request) will not be extended," adding, "We will definitely begin preparations for welcoming the new semester according to local circumstances." Regarding specific guidelines for resuming school activities, he stated, "They will be announced early next week."

Prime Minister Abe had announced on the 27th of last month that he would request nationwide temporary school closures for elementary, middle, and high schools until the start of spring vacation. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology immediately informed the boards of education of all 47 prefectures nationwide of this intent the following day. Typically, Japan's spring vacation runs from mid to late March until early April.

Meanwhile, at the COVID-19 Response Headquarters meeting on the same day, Prime Minister Abe urged people to avoid places that are poorly ventilated, crowded with many people, and where conversations occur at close distances to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

He also introduced opinions presented by the 'COVID-19 Expert Meeting' and requested that organizers continue to respond cautiously to large-scale sports and cultural events, which he had asked to refrain from on the 26th of last month.

The expert meeting warned the previous day that in regions where the number of patients with unknown infection routes continues to increase, there is a risk of a large-scale outbreak accompanied by explosive infection spread, urging thorough countermeasures. There are also speculations that in regions where COVID-19 cases continue to rise by early April when the new semester begins, school openings may be postponed.

On the other hand, it was also stated that responses should be tailored according to the infection situation in each region. This means that in areas with few additional infections, low-risk activities are allowed, and in regions without infections, activities such as school activities, outdoor sports spectating, and use of cultural and artistic facilities are permitted.

Meanwhile, as countries around the world implement entry restrictions targeting foreigners to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the number of countries and regions restricting entry of Japanese nationals has reportedly surpassed those restricting entry of Korean nationals.

According to a source from the Korean government, as of 7 a.m. local time on the same day, the number of countries and regions imposing entry restrictions on Japan has exceeded those restricting Korea.

The total number of countries and regions imposing entry restrictions on Japan is 209. This includes 131 countries and regions that ban entry and transit, and 78 countries and regions that impose behavioral restrictions after entry.

At the same time, the total number of countries and regions restricting entry of Koreans is 174, with 119 places banning entry, 4 places banning entry only in certain areas, 18 places imposing quarantine measures, and 33 places implementing enhanced quarantine or advisory measures.

This is analyzed to be influenced by the fact that, compared to Korea, which proactively tests for COVID-19, Japan has a lower number of tests but a higher positive rate. According to the Blue House website statistics, as of this day, Korea has conducted 316,664 tests with a positive rate of 2.73%. However, Japan has conducted 14,072 tests with a positive rate more than twice as high as Korea’s, at 6.75%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.