Two US Marine bases in Japan’s Okinawa locked down after dozens contract coronavirus
- 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
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.”
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.