{"id":66514,"date":"2022-01-09T20:50:24","date_gmt":"2022-01-09T20:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/01\/09\/us-japan-agree-to-keep-troops-on-base-to-curb-covid-spread\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T12:26:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:26:15","slug":"us-japan-agree-to-keep-troops-on-base-to-curb-covid-spread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2022\/01\/09\/us-japan-agree-to-keep-troops-on-base-to-curb-covid-spread\/","title":{"rendered":"US, Japan agree to keep troops on base to curb COVID spread"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TOKYO \u2014 The U.S. and Japan on Sunday agreed to keep American troops within their bases as worries grew about a sharp rise in coronavirus cases<\/a> in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The restrictions starting Monday will last 14 days, confining U.S. military personnel to base facilities except for \u201cessential activities,\u201d a statement from the U.S. Forces in Japan said. The Japanese Foreign Ministry released the same statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The allies will share information and cooperate on coronavirus measures, \u201cgiven the extraordinary virulence of the omicron variant spreading throughout Japan,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. military members will wear masks, both on and off base, when outside their homes, and will continue to carry out strict testing before leaving for and after arrival in Japan, it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New COVID-19 cases have surged in Japan<\/a>, jumping above 8,000 on Saturday, a four-month record. The spike has been most pronounced in areas near U.S. bases. Last week, Japan asked the U.S. for cooperation in keeping its military personnel on base.<\/p>\n\n\n\t