Some schools in Japan resume classes after virus-prompted closures

The virus hasn't peaked yet. At least the schools appear to be practicing social distancing and monitoring the children.

And what if there will be an outbreak in those school areas?

> Close again, and again, and again??

If that happens, the schools will close again and will be closed nationwide for a very long time.

That's my guess.

As a school administrator, it would be frustrating to decide when it is time to return to school. If the government is not providing reliable information then it is challenging to make quality decisions.

Cases are still going up, its way too early to be calling “all clear”.

Okinawa hasn't had a new case in 3 weeks...(amazing to me considering that two were taxi drivers who carried a hell of a lot of passengers) and out of a "reported" 198 people officially "tested" there were only the 3 positive results.

People two weeks ago were all running around with masks on here, last Sat I went to pick up some "White Day" chocolate for my wife and daughter, and the reverse was in effect, almost no one was wearing a mask.

People here it seems think the "peak" is passed!

Oh if new cases do suddenly appear, schools will close again!

Proof that not only were the school closures a meaningless, political act, but there have been numerous clusters found since the closures started -- meaning that the lack of enforcement for kids staying home and people avoiding crowds, including commuter trains, is leading to the REAL threat coming home to roost. What's more, some governments have said that they will resume classes come April regardless of whether the situation is worse or not. Japan is finally set to catch up with other nations, except we'll see it's far worse than anticipated due to the extreme lag in testing. Abe will dilly-dally on declaring a State emergency, and then will still call it "a recommendation which is optional".

Kids ain't catching it

I guess you havent been paying attention to the news from around Japan! There are a number of locations here in Japan where children have caught it!

The authorities are NOT testing them.

Good on the education boards for not following Dear Leader blindly and allowing healthy children to go to school.Kids ain't catching it,people with underlying issues get it the worst.And they being adults.

Kids DO catch it, they just don’t die from it. They can spread it though to the elderly who are vulnerable so closing the schools is not useless.

Good on the education boards for not following Dear Leader blindly and allowing healthy children to go to school.Kids ain't catching it,people with underlying issues get it the worst.And they being adults.

It's about containment not who gets it worse than the next person. School should remain closed sadly until the peak is well over. Rushing back is only inviting issues.

A positive sign of normality. Only fearmongers get disappointed?

As risk levels vary across regions, nationwide shutdown was unnecessary. Going to school (with caution) is in a way more protective as students' behavior can be monitored and managed.

Regardless of that, I will continue to support the development of online programs, though. We shouldn't undervalue basic education which is entitlement for kids; whose provision by adults and state is compulsory.

Children are catching virus. In London a new born baby is seriously ill after getting the virus from it's mother.

 along with many others who were wearing masks.

For absolutely no reason other than ceremonial display. Mask is to virus as crucifix is to vampire.

My guess it that this is probably okay from a public safety viewpoint.

I reckon this will be at least partly driven at public horror at the prospect of seniors not having a graduation ceremony. Its a big thing for lots of people.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't. I hope that this is the correct decision for these areas and that we don't see a rapid rise in cases. But when you look at Italy and the overwhelming number of infected and dying, it is a little hard to think that they are jumping the gun on re-opening the schools. And it is not only schools, I see that Huis Ten Bos has re-opened as well as the Moomin park.

Might as well, since most of the kids are out and about on the street anyway.

Other countries around the world have closed schools, including even African countries. Canadian schools could close until September.

Yet, Japan is doing the opposite.

Just saw that travel warning to Italy is only 3 and rest of Europe at just 2.

I'm struggling to figure out what is up with Japan. Most TV channels here are still talking about a lack of masks/hand sanitizer and how to get students back to school ASAP and how to save the Olympics.

Still no real debate at all. Noticed that the "experts" on TV a few weeks ago who were putting out warnings regarding this crisis have shut up in recent days. Instead they are still discussing possible clusters in live houses. Those should have been forcibly closed down weeks ago, along with all other cafe, restaurants, museums etc.

Not in Japan, though. Life goes on, almost as usual. I tell you when they do finally close things down, it's going to be too late. It's already too late.

the elderly are all about many maskless and enjoying the pachinko parlours,cafes and malls....

The elderly who are at most risk are casually risking their fragile health going around town while the kids are off school supposedly distancing themselves from them.

my point is ...the elderly should be self isolating more !

one rule for the infectious kids & another for the vulnerable high risks oldies!

The kids will be never catch up on their colouring!

Maybe to take the, If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, approach. I might go to Moomin.

I'm starting to think that somehow Japan has indeed outsmarted the virus.

See you at the Olympics in July.

Why do I feel like this is the calm before the storm?

Fully justified given Abe's data on the number of cases and his success in curtailing the spread. I mean, what else do the school boards have to go on? The leader of the country said they're making progress, that the numbers are encouraging low, and that he remains cautiously optimistic. He also expressed the hope that kids can get back to school as soon as possible.

And what if there will be an outbreak in those school areas?

Actually, WHO and medical professionals have been saying that closing schools, and all these "drastic measures" of closing everything isn't really going to stop the virus. The way to stop it is to focus on exactly the points of the epidemic, just like they did in South Korea, so these movements have been more political than really medical.

So yeah, if there is an outbreak in the school it would make more sense to then close the school.

There are a number of locations here in Japan where children have caught it!

Kids do catch it, but there is basically a 0% death rate for those under 10.

Why do I feel like this is the calm before the storm?

Because you are experiencing the symptoms of mass hysteria.

If anything, the only really terrifying storm there could be is that of even more mass hysteria.

I'm struggling to figure out what is up with Japan. Most TV channels here are still talking about a lack of masks/hand sanitizer and how to get students back to school ASAP and how to save the Olympics.

Here is the thing, Japan for the most part is inmune to the world wide mass media. Japan did had for a while its panic moment, and it is still a little bit in panic mode, but for the most part it hasn't reached the levels of insanity seen outside of Japan.

If anything, I'm glad at this point that I live in Japan in these times, since the measures aren't as crazy and overblown as in many other countries.

I was worried about the new emergency powers law in Japan, but after seen how other European countries reacted to this... man, I'm glad I'm here.

A positive sign of normality. Only fearmongers get disappointed?

When there is mass histeria, the irrationality of the hysteria makes it so that they only focus on any negative point, to the point of trying to turn a positive into a negative.

That's why there are so many conspiracy theories going around.

Wow, Japan acts as if it recovered from the pandemic, or as if it never happened.

Well, I share with some of your sentiment by saying that this is a bit early. I mean, that part of Okinawa not having getting any new infections in three weeks, I can understand them re-opening their schools. but I agree, I think people are jumping the gun a bit, considering the fact that schools here in the US will be closed for at least a month. And that three day travel ban from Europe to the US? Yeah.

*30 day travel ban.

My bad.

Idiots.

Pride comes before a fall.

The idea on a graph chart is to flatten the curve until they get a handle on this virus but with this decision, it'll look more like something from a Richter scale.

I guess you havent been paying attention to the news from around Japan! There are a number of locations here in Japan where children have caught it!

The authorities are NOT testing them.

See, Someone really does get it. This is just nuts! I somehow see this as going to probably bite Japan big time in the rear.

now that international travel is either cut off or at least managable due to low number of visitors, I think the worst time has passed in Japan as far as the virus is concerned

those who say Japanese goverment hide numbers, lol you don't understand Japanese culture and society.

self discipline and perseverance is in their blood thanks to 2000years of isolation from the outside world. good habits of social distancing and personal hygnie also help alot.

when its all part of your routine life you naturally know how to deal with crisis like this without government teaching you, and of course without panic.

@Seth M

when its all part of your routine life you naturally know how to deal with crisis

Except when it comes to cruise ships? The Japanese also did a lousy job of dealing with the aftermath of the Kobe Earthquake and Fukushiima Crisis, to name just two. Many people didnt know where to go or what to do.

This crisis is still ongoing, and it's way to early to give a verdict.

How is it that only Japan and China seem to be going back to normal life as though the virus has been tackled and defeated in their countries? What is your secret? How about tell the rest of the world how you have managed to defeat this virus. (Yes, there is some sarcasm in this post)

my Japanese family members spent all day yesterday calling researching possibility of distance and online classes during this crisis and discovered not one of the many different schools from primary to high school or the ministry of education could answer basic questions - what schools offer distance learning, how do we find them, who is in charge, how do we apply, isn't the ministry of education in charge of all education at public schools, what courses can be taught by distance learning, etc etc. typical Japanese no one knows anything about anything

Wow, Japan acts as if it recovered from the pandemic, or as if it never happened.

Exactly. Denial and cover-up is the way it goes here. News reports in the past tense, so everyone faces backwards, and doesn't look at what's up ahead. Very little scientific, evidence-driven information backing policy, allowing all sorts of loons to assert, based on hunches, how Japan is different. Nihonjinron, and all those who let themselves be suckered by it, are really going to get bitten in the bum by reality. Just as it did Donald Trump yesterday.