{"id":54684,"date":"2022-01-06T14:39:45","date_gmt":"2022-01-06T14:39:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/01\/06\/japan-asks-us-forces-to-stay-on-base-as-covid-19-cases-jump\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:34:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:34:15","slug":"japan-asks-us-forces-to-stay-on-base-as-covid-19-cases-jump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/01\/06\/japan-asks-us-forces-to-stay-on-base-as-covid-19-cases-jump\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan asks US forces to stay on base as COVID-19 cases jump"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TOKYO (AP) \u2014 Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Thursday asked that the U.S. military in Japan<\/a> stay inside its bases to prevent the further spread of COVID-19<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hayashi said he spoke on the phone with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and was promised utmost efforts to ensure people\u2019s health. It was not immediately clear if a base curfew would be issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maj. Thomas R. Barger, a U.S. Forces in Japan spokesperson, said he could not comment on the request, but that a team was carefully monitoring cases and trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hayashi\u2019s request came as the U.S. military is promising more stringent measures to curb spreading cases. The new measures require all personnel, even when fully vaccinated, to wear masks on base until a third negative coronavirus test, and reiterate an order for all to wear masks when off base, Barger said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American forces have come under fire after a spike in coronavirus cases in areas where they are based in large numbers, including Okinawa and Iwakuni, both in southern Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he has decided to tighten virus restrictions in Okinawa, Yamaguchi prefecture, where Iwakuni is located, and Hiroshima.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cQuick action is needed given the rapid spread of the omicron variant,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk on the street in the snow in Tokyo, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (AP Photo\/Koji Sasahara)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The measures center on reducing the hours that alcohol can be served in eateries and bars and preparing the health care system to respond to surging cases. The steps will become official Friday after Kishida meets with experts and a report is made to Parliament. Kishida also stressed he strongly supported Hayashi\u2019s request to the U.S. military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki sent a request to Japan\u2019s national government earlier in the day for permission to strengthen the prefecture\u2019s anti-virus measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A daily record of 981 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Okinawa on Thursday. In December, there were zero new cases on some days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we all work together, we hope cases will come down,\u201d Tamaki told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan has never had a lockdown, but measures have periodically been taken to restrict people\u2019s activities, such as requesting stores and restaurants to close early or serve fewer people. Such measures were lifted in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tamaki has blamed U.S. soldiers for what he called \u201cthe alarming rise\u201d of cases on Okinawa, which has been hit harder than the rest of Japan. He promised financial aid for businesses that abide by the restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yamaguchi prefecture also sent a request to the national government to strengthen anti-virus measures after it confirmed a record 181 daily COVID cases. Yamaguchi prefectural officials suspect the illness spread from U.S. soldiers and Japanese military personnel who work on Iwakuni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cases are gradually rising throughout Japan, including in Tokyo, which reported 641 new cases Thursday, up from 390 the previous day. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike has so far been reluctant to order restrictive measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan beefed up border controls late last year, preventing travel from abroad except for returning residents and citizens. American soldiers are basically free to enter and move about Japan under a bilateral security agreement. The U.S. is Japan\u2019s most important ally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 cases among U.S. Forces in Japan now total 1,784, about a third of them on Okinawa, according to USFJ. Iwakuni has reported a total of 529 cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe mitigation measures we have instituted throughout USFJ are intended to protect our force\u2019s readiness, the well-being of our families, and the health of Japan\u2019s citizens. We recognize we all have a part to play in keeping our communities safe,\u201d U.S. Forces in Japan said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week, Japan has been reporting more than 2,000 new cases daily, but that shot up to 4,221 on Thursday, with cases tripling in many areas compared to the previous week. About 80% of the population has had two vaccine shots, but boosters are just getting started. Japan has had 18,300 coronavirus-related deaths.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

American forces have come under fire after a spike in coronavirus cases in areas where they are based in large 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