A hopefully good move, but might have been nicer to have given teachers and students more time to prepare (i.e., announce it a week earlier, perhaps?).
shrug Just my $0.02
>The latest cases bring the number of confirmed infections in Hokkaido to 54, the most in Japan.
How were they supposed to know last week that this would happen? Or are you proposing be can stop the spread of the virus for a week to give people chance to get ready??
Basically, teachers and students have to finish up the school year TODAY, with no advanced warning or time to plan.
So, I completely agree with Abe-san's desire to curb the spread of the virus, but being in the education system myself (and having 3 kids affected by his decision), a bit of an advanced warning would have GREATLY helped the schools, the kids, and the parents.
shrug But as I said, it's just my thoughts and hopes and desires as a father being affected by it! :-)
He announced it late in the afternoon but I even consider irresponsible to make that from next week and let the schools open tomorrow if you consider the situation so dangerous as to warrant school closures.