Japan asks US to help curb troop deployment after COVID-19 outbreak in Okinawa prefecture
TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi has called on the United States to consider restricting the deployment of US troops on Japanese soil to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Surrounding community. This was released by Reuters on Thursday afternoon, January 6, 2022.
The request was sent to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken after the COVID-19 outbreak in the Okinawa prefecture, known as Where the United States' most important military base is located, the virus is also spreading to surrounding communities.
According to local Japanese media, Okinawa prefectural officials have blamed U.S. forces for transmitting the COVID-19 virus to communities around the base. On Wednesday, Okinawa prefectural authorities announced the detection of 623 COVID-19 positive cases, three times the number released the day before.
Okinawa prefectural authorities have submitted a proposal to the Tokyo government to release new austerity measures aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the U.S. military said in a statement. It is also taking more stringent measures to prevent the spread of the virus. As a practical measure, all US troops are now required to wear a mask when leaving the base and are required to undergo the COVID-19 test.
