Photo/Illutration Naka-Furano Elementary School in Hokkaido is closed until March 3 after two pupils were infected with the new coronavirus. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Parents are fighting on social media over whether to keep children home from school to protect them from the new coronavirus.

Some parents opposed to sending kids to school have posted comments and hashtags to gather support and initiated online petitions to get schools to close temporarily.

But other parents online slammed their efforts as an overreaction.

A 35-year-old woman has not sent her three children to an elementary school and kindergarten in Osaka Prefecture since the end of January to prevent the coronavirus from spreading further.

Her children have been studying and exercising at home.

“I hear that kids aren't at such a serious risk even if they become infected,” the woman said. “But I worry my children may spread the virus without developing any symptoms and end up infecting my parents as well as elderly residents in our apartment.”

Though her relatives and friends told her she was overthinking the risk, she decided to keep her children home for a while after discussing the issue with them.

Vietnam and South Korea have temporarily closed some schools to prevent the spread of the virus.

Japan’s education ministry on Feb. 18 notified the prefectural boards of education across the nation to close schools, if neccessary, when students are infected.

The Osaka mom said waiting until then would be acting too late.

“Japanese schools are too complacent compared to other Asian nations," she said. "Even if all working parents can’t take time off, it would be meaningful to reduce people's movements even a little bit."

A 38-year-old Tokyo mother was unconvinced that closing schools would stop the spread of the virus.

“People like me can’t take time off from work when schools are closed. What should they do?” asked the woman, who has one child in elementary school and another in nursery school.

“Without knowing when we can assure safety, dust won’t settle even if they shut schools.”

She added that she hoped people would more calmly respond to the new coronavirus.

“People criticize those who cough instead of expressing concern for them," she said. "The current social atmosphere is stifling."