Problems Mount As School Shutdown Looms

Problems mount as school shutdown looms

There's concern and confusion over the Japanese prime minister's plan to shut down the nation's schools to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. More than 12 million students could be kept home starting next week. Parents scrambles to figure out what to do with their kids.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe effectively asked all elementary, junior high, senior high schools, and special-needs schools to start their spring holidays from Monday instead of late March. This essentially shutters schools for weeks.