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BANGKOK, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Thai Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan has ordered all schools nationwide to be closed from Wednesday in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19.

"We must take into consideration the well-being of students, so we have to close all educational institutions under the ministry, both government and private, from March 18 onwards," Nataphol said Tuesday.

"Any school that violates this order will have its license withdrawn," said the minister.

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday warned of possible mass COVID-19 contagion, with 30 new cases reported on Tuesday, raising the total cases in the country to 177.

The ministry also warned that there may be more infections, between 30 and 50 cases each day, in April.