TOKYO - Japan's Osaka city has decided to close all public kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools from Feb. 29 to March 13 in a bid to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, Kyodo reported on Thursday.

An Osaka city official said the municipal government was holding a meeting late afternoon on Thursday to discuss measures concerning the virus but that he was not aware of the reported decision.

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka Editing by Chang-Ran Kim) ((ran.kim@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-4563-2740;))