US Military Bases In Okinawa Under Lockdown With Over 100 Confirmed Coronavirus Cases

U.S. military bases on the Japanese island of Okinawa were under lockdown Monday as nearly 100 coronavirus cases were reported among base personnel during the weekend.

The lockdown order issued Saturday banned all “off-base movement” for any U.S. military personnel stationed on Okinawa unless approved by an officer at the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher. Bases under lockdown include U.S. Air Force Kadena Air Base and U.S. Marines Corps' Air Station Futenma, Camp Hansen and Camp Kinza.

“I am shocked,” Okinawa Prefectural Gov. Denny Tamaki said in a press release. “It is extremely regrettable that a large number of cases are occurring in a short period of time at a time when all Okinawans are trying so hard to prevent the infection from spreading.”

As of Monday, the Tamaki's office reported 94 confirmed cases of coronavirus among U.S. military personnel stationed on the island.

“The US cases have primarily been Marines assigned to MCAS Futenma and Camp Hansen, and have been a mix of both travel-related and those with origins we've yet to be able to identify indicating the potential of a reemergence of community spread,” U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Joel Carey said in a press release.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Kenneth Kunze followed said all Marines and their families stationed at the three bases were being tested while contact tracing had begun to try and identify the source of the outbreak.