Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has filed a request with the US military for personnel to be confined to their bases until the outbreak can be brought under control again. US authorities have stated they are making progress in containing the outbreak but have declined to restrict the movement of troops.

“I’m outraged because the sharp increase in cases among US military personnel suggests that their management is insufficient,” Tamaki said at a press conference in the prefectural capital of Naha on Sunday.

“I urge both the Japanese and US governments to have a strong sense of alarm that [the spread of Covid-19 in Okinawa is being caused by] a systemic problem,” he added.

Okinawa health experts were set to meet later on Wednesday to determine whether to ask the central government to impose urgent measures.

Masafumi Chinen, who lives near the US Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station, said he was worried for the community.

“What makes me really angry is when I see the base personnel out in the community but not wearing masks or taking any precautions,” said Chinen, a 45-year-old care assistant.

“It’s not all of them, of course, but I’d say that around half of the base people I see are not wearing a mask. Residents are angry when they see that sort of thing because wearing a mask is so easy.”

Tadashi Kadokura, an economist with the BRICs Economic Research Institute, said in a report published in The Okinawa Times that the US should provide compensation for the losses sustained by the prefecture.

“If the US forces border measures had been implemented thoroughly, it would have been possible to prevent the spread of community-acquired infections in Okinawa,” he wrote.

“It is clear that infections with the Omicron strain have spread due to the fact that tests were not conducted upon entry and exit from US bases. So should the United States not bear the cost of the resulting economic losses?”

Hiroshi Shiratori, a professor of political analysis at Hosei University, said Tokyo needed to put more pressure on Washington to make the military on all US bases in Japan comply with requests for restrictions on personnel.

“This infection in Okinawa may spread to other prefectures, so it is not just a problem for the citizens of Okinawa but an issue for the entire nation,” he said. “I hope for swift action from the government.”

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said his government would do everything in its power to halt the spread of Omicron, shifting its efforts from strengthening border controls.

New measures in the coming weeks include more testing and earlier treatment, while booster shots are being rolled out among health care workers, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

Kishida added that he had put off planned visits to the US and Australia in favour of virtual talks with his counterparts on Thursday and Friday.

Japan steps up Pacific engagement to counter China’s growing influence

Australia and Japan are set on Thursday to sign a “historic” treaty that will further strengthen defence and security cooperation, in a move that could further inflame tensions with China.

The agreement is the first of its type for Japan, other than with the US and the UN, and marks a step closer in a relationship that is often referred to as a “quasi alliance”.

As of Tuesday, a total of 1,191 cases of the Omicron variant had been found in Japan, including 479 cases considered community transmissions, according to the health ministry.

Additional reporting by Reuters and Bloomberg