News / Military

US base on Japan's Okinawa confirms 36 more coronavirus cases: Kyodo

Wednesday, 15 July 2020 11:53 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 15 July 2020 11:53 AM ]

US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircrafts are seen at the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan on Japan's southernmost island of Okinawa March 24, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

A US Marine Corps base in Okinawa has confirmed a further 36 novel coronavirus infections, the prefectural government said Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases at American military facilities on the island to 136.

The Okinawan government said it was informed by the US forces of the latest positive tests returned by personnel at Camp Hansen, which now has seen 58 of the total infections.

In addition to Camp Hansen, 71 cases have been linked to the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, with another five confirmed at Kadena Air Base, and one each at Camp McTureous and Camp Kinser.

Japan's southern island prefecture, which has so far reported 148 coronavirus cases among the general population, said it would not be including the infections among US military personnel in its total.

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki on the weekend urged locals who attended parties with US personnel in downtown areas and at beaches around July 4 to celebrate Independence Day to seek medical advice if they feel unwell.

Polymerase chain reaction tests conducted on 130 people, including employees of establishments in the town of Chatan who could have come into contact with US service personnel at Independence Day parties, all came back negative, according to the prefectural government.

Outside of Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of American military facilities in Japan, people have returned positive coronavirus tests at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture and at other military locations.

Source: Kyodo News

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