ITALY: All Schools To Be Closed To Curb Virus Spread

Bloomberg News reports:

Italy will shut down schools across the country until mid-March to curb the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, newswire Ansa reported. The closure, which starts Thursday, is aimed at tackling the outbreak of the highly contagious disease, which has killed 79 people in the country and crippled the rich northern regions.

As many as 8.7 million children and students will be affected from kindergarten to high schools and universities, as well as their families. Many in the afflicted regions, from Milan to Venice and Bologna, are already confined at home. The Italian decision follows up on Japan, which is enforcing a complete school shutdown due to last until April.