Japanese PM urges two week sports moratorium to combat coronavirus

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday urged organisers of large sports and cultural events to eir suspend, postpone or reduce attendance for next two weeks to help stop spre of coronavirus.

Shinzo Abe me request a day after senior International Olympic Committee Dick Pound said that if virus outbreak continues through summer, organisers would be more likely to cancel than to postpone or move upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympics.

But a Japanese gvernment spokesman said on Wednesday that International Olympic Committee assured m Pound's comments do t reflect official IOC position.

Abe also said government will ban visitors who have been in virus hit South Korean regions Daegu and Cheongdo-gun within past 14 days.