Worried About Triggering Local Infections, The United States Agrees To Japan To Tighten COVID-19 Control At Its Military Bases

Illustration of United States soldiers at Camp Hansen, Okinawa Military Base, Japan. (Wikimedia Commons/Lance Cpl. Janessa Pon)

JAKARTA - The United States has agreed to impose stricter COVID-19 controls on its military bases in Japan, a joint US-Japan statement said on Sunday, amid fears the outbreak at the bases has fueled infections in local communities.

For two weeks starting Monday, the movement of US troop personnel outside base facilities will be restricted to essential activities, a joint statement by the Japanese government and US forces in Japan said.

Denny Tamaki, governor of Japan's southern island of Okinawa, which hosts most US bases in Japan, said this month he was "outraged" about what he called inadequate infection control at US military bases, which allowed the Omicron variant to spread to the public.

"The United States and Japan are committed to working together to protect the health of the Japanese people and US service members," the joint statement said, citing Reuters on January 9.

In addition, US troops in Japan have implemented a mandatory mask policy for all personnel, the statement continued.

The deal came after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a televised broadcast the United States had agreed to impose tougher COVID-19 measures and details were being worked out.

The joint statement also followed a virtual meeting on Friday attended by the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries to discuss security issues.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said at the meeting, anxiety was spreading among local residents about the increase in coronavirus infections in and around US bases, calling for prompt enforcement of precautionary measures.

To note, Japan on Sunday reintroduced coronavirus restrictions in three regions that host US military bases, its first emergency control since September.

Previously, the Japanese Government suspended entry of almost all foreign travelers at the end of November after the World Health Organization listed Omicron as a variant of concern. Meanwhile, the US military has moved staff in and out under separate testing and quarantine orders.