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Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea will be closed from Feb. 29 to Mar. 15 in light of the rising Covid-19 outbreak in Japan.

Tokyo Disney Resort made the announcement on its Twitter account on Feb. 28:

東京ディズニーランドおよび東京ディズニーシーは、2020年2月29日(土)から3月15日(日)の間、臨時休園することを決定しましたのでお知らせいたします。
くわしくはこちらをご確認ください。＞＞ https://t.co/2RfT2GD0nM

— 東京ディズニーリゾートPR【公式】 (@TDR_PR) February 28, 2020

Cooperate with Japan's Covid-19 countermeasures

In a lengthier statement on its official website, Disney Resort stated that it will be cooperating with Japan's countermeasures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

While the parks plan to reopen on Mar. 16, Disney Resort is currently in close contact with the relevant Japanese government agencies to confirm the reopening at a later date.

Those who had purchased tickets for the affected days will receive refunds or an extension of the expiry dates.

According to Kyodo News, shopping and entertainment complex Ikspiari, which is located near the parks, will also temporarily shut down during this period.

However, the hotels and monorail will still be in service as per normal.

Regarded as two of the most popular destinations, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea garner more than 30 million visitors each year, reported Japan Times.

This will be the first time the parks will close for an extended period since 2011, when the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit northeastern Japan.

Other major events called off

The temporary closure is in line with calls for major sporting and cultural events to be called off, postponed or scaled down over the next two weeks, according to Bloomberg.

The move also comes after Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for all elementary, junior-high and high schools in Japan to close from Mar. 2 onwards.

Top image by Roméo A. via Unsplash.