Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe holds a news conference amid the COVID-19 outbreak. 

In order to further contain the spread of novel coronavirus, the Japanese government on Friday asked elementary, junior, senior high and other schools to close from Monday until the spring holidays in late March, according to NHK News. The education ministry is asking children to stay at home.

As of Friday, there were 940 confirmed cases in Japan, including 221 domestic cases, 705 from the cruise liner Diamond Princess and 14 returnees from overseas.