Two US Marine bases in Japan’s Okinawa locked down after dozens contract coronavirus
Associated Press and Kyodo
Published: 11:20pm, 11 Jul, 2020
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki. File photo: Kyodo
Two US Marine bases in
Japan
’s southern island of Okinawa have been locked down after dozens of Marines were infected with the
coronavirus
, prompting the local governor to demand an explanation from the US military.
The US forces told the Okinawa government that the 61 cases were confirmed between Tuesday and Saturday at US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Camp Hansen, prefectural government officials said.
“Okinawans are shocked by what we were told [by the US military],” Governor Denny Tamaki told a news conference earlier on Saturday. “We now have strong doubts that the US military has taken adequate disease prevention measures.”
An aerial view of the US Marine Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa. File photo: Kyodo News via AP
Tamaki added some US military personnel held parties in downtown areas and beaches around July 4 to celebrate Independence Day and called on participants of such events to see a doctor if they feel unwell.
Lt Gen Stacy Clardy, commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and head of US forces in Okinawa, explained the infection situation at the military facilities to Governor Denny Tamaki by phone, prefectural government officials said.
The Marine Corps said it “experienced two localised clusters of individuals who tested positive for the virus” and that all personnel who tested positive for Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, were in isolation.
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Kadena Air Base and Camp McTureous in Okinawa have also seen coronavirus infections, according to the prefectural government.
People wearing masks seen at the Naha Kokusai shopping street in Okinawa Prefecture. Photo: Kyodo
Okinawa is home to more than half of about 50,000 American troops based in Japan under a bilateral security pact, and the residents are sensitive to US base-related problems. Many Okinawans have long complained about pollution, noise and crime related to US bases.
Okinawans also oppose a planned relocation of the Futenma airbase from the current site in a densely populated area in the south to a less populated area on the east coast.
Local media reported that the Okinawan assembly adopted a resolution on Friday protesting the US military’s lack of transparency about its outbreak on base.
Tokyo reports 224 new coronavirus infections, a daily record
9 Jul 2020
Okinawa has about 150 cases of the coronavirus. In all,
Japan
has some 21,500 cases and almost 1,000 deaths, with Tokyo reporting more than 200 new cases for a third straight day on Saturday.
Despite the alarming trend, Japan relaxed its guidelines on Friday for holding large sporting and other events, and the top government spokesman suggested the government would not ask people to stay at home again to curb the virus spread.
Of the 206 infections in the capital, none of them have developed severe symptoms, while 101 were designated as having unknown infection routes, according to the metropolitan government.
Tokyo has seen a recent spike in coronavirus infections, prompting fears of a second wave. Photo: Kyodo
Forty-eight cases were related to nightlife establishments such as host clubs, and 59 people were infected through the workplace, family members or dining out among other routes, according to the Tokyo government.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Saturday the recent spike in Tokyo’s new infections was a result of the expansion of testing capacity.
Hong Kong national security law and Covid-19 strain China-Japan ties
5 Jul 2020
“The government is aggressively tackling the issue by thoroughly conducting tests to identify those who are positive,” Suga said at a lecture meeting in Hokkaido.
He added the central government’s basic stance of pushing forward social and economic activities remained unchanged.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, minister in charge of economic revitalisation, said at a press conference that the spread of infections in Tokyo was at a “level where people should be on alert”.
“We will significantly boost our PCR testing,” Nishimura reiterated, referring to polymerase chain reaction tests.
- The US forces told the Okinawa government that 61 cases were confirmed between Tuesday and Saturday
- Okinawa’s governor said the clusters left Okinawans shocked and raised questions about the US Marines’ disease prevention measures
Associated Press and Kyodo
Published: 11:20pm, 11 Jul, 2020
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki. File photo: Kyodo
Two US Marine bases in
Japan
’s southern island of Okinawa have been locked down after dozens of Marines were infected with the
coronavirus
, prompting the local governor to demand an explanation from the US military.
The US forces told the Okinawa government that the 61 cases were confirmed between Tuesday and Saturday at US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Camp Hansen, prefectural government officials said.
“Okinawans are shocked by what we were told [by the US military],” Governor Denny Tamaki told a news conference earlier on Saturday. “We now have strong doubts that the US military has taken adequate disease prevention measures.”
An aerial view of the US Marine Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa. File photo: Kyodo News via AP
Tamaki added some US military personnel held parties in downtown areas and beaches around July 4 to celebrate Independence Day and called on participants of such events to see a doctor if they feel unwell.
Lt Gen Stacy Clardy, commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and head of US forces in Okinawa, explained the infection situation at the military facilities to Governor Denny Tamaki by phone, prefectural government officials said.
The Marine Corps said it “experienced two localised clusters of individuals who tested positive for the virus” and that all personnel who tested positive for Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, were in isolation.
SCMP GLOBAL IMPACT NEWSLETTER
Uncover the most important stories from China that affect the world
SUBSCRIBE
By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Kadena Air Base and Camp McTureous in Okinawa have also seen coronavirus infections, according to the prefectural government.
People wearing masks seen at the Naha Kokusai shopping street in Okinawa Prefecture. Photo: Kyodo
Okinawa is home to more than half of about 50,000 American troops based in Japan under a bilateral security pact, and the residents are sensitive to US base-related problems. Many Okinawans have long complained about pollution, noise and crime related to US bases.
Okinawans also oppose a planned relocation of the Futenma airbase from the current site in a densely populated area in the south to a less populated area on the east coast.
Local media reported that the Okinawan assembly adopted a resolution on Friday protesting the US military’s lack of transparency about its outbreak on base.
Tokyo reports 224 new coronavirus infections, a daily record
9 Jul 2020
Okinawa has about 150 cases of the coronavirus. In all,
Japan
has some 21,500 cases and almost 1,000 deaths, with Tokyo reporting more than 200 new cases for a third straight day on Saturday.
Despite the alarming trend, Japan relaxed its guidelines on Friday for holding large sporting and other events, and the top government spokesman suggested the government would not ask people to stay at home again to curb the virus spread.
Of the 206 infections in the capital, none of them have developed severe symptoms, while 101 were designated as having unknown infection routes, according to the metropolitan government.
Tokyo has seen a recent spike in coronavirus infections, prompting fears of a second wave. Photo: Kyodo
Forty-eight cases were related to nightlife establishments such as host clubs, and 59 people were infected through the workplace, family members or dining out among other routes, according to the Tokyo government.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Saturday the recent spike in Tokyo’s new infections was a result of the expansion of testing capacity.
Hong Kong national security law and Covid-19 strain China-Japan ties
5 Jul 2020
“The government is aggressively tackling the issue by thoroughly conducting tests to identify those who are positive,” Suga said at a lecture meeting in Hokkaido.
He added the central government’s basic stance of pushing forward social and economic activities remained unchanged.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, minister in charge of economic revitalisation, said at a press conference that the spread of infections in Tokyo was at a “level where people should be on alert”.
“We will significantly boost our PCR testing,” Nishimura reiterated, referring to polymerase chain reaction tests.
