Japan Asks US Forces to Stay on Base as COVID-19 Cases Jump

Japan Asks US Forces to Stay on Base as COVID-19 Cases Jump
A vehicle leaves the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Hansen, in Kin, Okinawa prefecture, southern Japan, on Jan. 5, 2022. Kyodo News via AP
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TOKYO—Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Thursday asked that the U.S. military in Japan stay inside its bases to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

Hayashi said he spoke on the phone with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and was promised utmost efforts to ensure people’s health. It was not immediately clear if a base curfew would be issued.