US Forces Korea Expands COVID-19 Emergency Response to Entire Japan

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The U.S. Forces Japan has expanded the 'Public Health Emergency Declaration' area due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) within Japan to cover the entire country.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun, on the 15th, the U.S. Forces Japan Command expanded the emergency declaration, which had been limited to the Kanto region including Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, and six surrounding prefectures, to all bases within Japan. The U.S. Forces Japan Command explained, "We are reviewing necessary preventive measures to reduce the risk of infection and recommend strict hygiene management and social distancing."

Accordingly, commanders of U.S. Forces Japan bases nationwide must implement necessary preventive measures to ensure that soldiers, their families, and civilian employees working or living on U.S. military facilities do not contract COVID-19. The implementation period is scheduled until the 15th of next month, but according to the judgment of Kevin Schneider, Commander of U.S. Forces Japan, it may be lifted early or extended, Mainichi reported.

Previously, Commander Schneider had declared a public health emergency limited to the Kanto region on the 6th, one day before Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency in seven metropolitan areas including Tokyo.

As of the 15th, COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in 46 out of 47 prefectures (metropolitan governments) in Japan, excluding Iwate Prefecture. Including passengers aboard the cruise ship "Diamond Princess," the total number of confirmed infections in Japan is 9,434 as of this day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.