Japan and Hong Kong have closed their elementary, junior-high and high schools April. Governments say they want to protect children the COVID-19 coronavirus. Schools Japan will remain closed April the 8th, which is the start the new school year. Children in Hong Kong will return to school April the 20th at the earliest. Parents are now worried the school closures. Working parents have to think about how to care younger children. Grandparents will look many children while their parents go to work. However, many children have no grandparents or extended family who live nearby. Parents may have to pay expensive childcare fees.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shut the country's schools a meeting of Japan's anti-virus task force. He said the next two weeks are critical to control the spread COVID-19. He wants to "stem the risk many children and teachers becoming infected gathering for long hours every day". The government said it would urge public services and private companies to make it easier people to take time work to look after their children. An angry mother said: "I wonder if the government thinks it is OK to leave children home alone for long hours." She asked: "What's the point closing schools if parents are still commuting packed trains which passengers may have COVID-19?"
