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left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
Sat Jul 11, 2020, 02:10 PM Jul 2020

Dozens of US Marines in Japan's Okinawa get coronavirus

Source: ABC News

Dozens of U.S. Marines at two bases on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa have been infected with the coronavirus in what is feared to be a massive outbreak, Okinawa's governor said Saturday, demanding an adequate explanation from the U.S. military.

Gov. Denny Tamaki said he could say only that a “few dozen” cases had been found recently because the U.S. military asked that the exact figure not be released. The outbreaks occurred at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, which is at the center of a relocation dispute, and Camp Hansen, Tamaki said.

Local media, citing unnamed sources, said about 60 people had been infected.

“Okinawans are shocked by what we were told (by the U.S. military),” Tamaki told a news conference. “We now have strong doubts that the U.S. military has taken adequate disease prevention measures.” Tamaki demanded transparency in the latest development and said he planned to request talks between the U.S. military and Okinawan officials. He said Okinawan officials also asked the Japanese government to demand that the U.S. provide details including the number of cases, seal off Futenma and Camp Hansen, and step up preventive measures on base.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/dozens-us-marines-japans-okinawa-coronavirus-71729510

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totodeinhere

(13,034 posts)
3. I would not jump to any conclusions until we get more information.
Sat Jul 11, 2020, 02:26 PM
Jul 2020

You are assuming that this outbreak results from a lax attitude toward the virus and you may be right but without more facts we cannot be sure about that yet. For a start, they need to do contact tracing to try to find out the origins of this outbreak. Remember that this virus is very contagious and we can't rule out the possibility that it was caused by community spread in Okinawa. Or it could have been brought to the base from service members arriving from some other location.

groundloop

(11,487 posts)
2. But it's harmless.... it's under control.... it'll just go away.... nothing to worry about
Sat Jul 11, 2020, 02:22 PM
Jul 2020


We have become the laughingstock of the world.

groundloop

(11,487 posts)
7. Good point. Maybe Japan will shutter a few for us.
Sat Jul 11, 2020, 02:36 PM
Jul 2020

Right now we have more than 800 bases in over 70 foreign countries. WHY?

rpannier

(24,304 posts)
11. I live in Japan (and before that Korea)
Sat Jul 11, 2020, 11:25 PM
Jul 2020

The Japanese government (and Korean gov't) do want us there as a buffer against the Chinese and North Koreans
One of the things that has kept relative peace on the peninsula has been the large US presence
Shutting down those bases is not a good idea

llmart

(15,499 posts)
12. Of course the Japanese government wants us there.
Sun Jul 12, 2020, 09:19 AM
Jul 2020

Ask the Okinawans how they feel about the bases being there.

If you want to watch an enlightening show about this issue, PBS did a documentary on how we came to be there in the first place and how the islanders were treated. It's akin to how our Native Americans feel about being moved to reservations.

soryang

(3,299 posts)
13. There is no official consensus in South Korea concerning an anti-China orientation
Sun Jul 12, 2020, 04:56 PM
Jul 2020

In fact, I think South Korean diplomats currently would disavow any anti-Chinese orientation whatsoever in their military relationship with the US. They will not participate with the US or other countries allied with the US in anti-Chinese military exercises.

The three no's if I remember correctly are no new THAAD installations in S.Korea; no integration of South Korean anti-missile systems with those of the US and Japan, and no participation in military alliances directed against the PRC.

Akakoji

(139 posts)
15. Yes. It would appear most posters here are quite ignorant of the facts
Sun Jul 12, 2020, 08:06 PM
Jul 2020

about Covid-19 in Japan, as well as the reason why Okinawans actually want the US there. Except for a few right wing nationalist Japanese people aligned with Abe's government, the Japanese like Americans and our military. Every last strain and reserve to make Shochu was destroyed during the attack on Okinawa during WWII, but they got over it pretty quickly.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
6. "...U.S. military asked that the exact figure not be released..."
Sat Jul 11, 2020, 02:35 PM
Jul 2020

Gawd forbid the admirals upset the owners of the "soaplands".

elleng

(130,126 posts)
9. "We now have strong doubts that the U.S. military has taken adequate disease prevention measures."
Sat Jul 11, 2020, 03:58 PM
Jul 2020

trump/repugs' goal: contaminate the world.

Akakoji

(139 posts)
14. I hope they reported on the Japanese self inflicted pandemic as well
Sun Jul 12, 2020, 08:02 PM
Jul 2020

For the fourth straight day in a row Tokyo has had record high cases of Covid-19, as have most other areas in Japan, due to what they call dating clubs. Most of the cases are very young adults. What's with the anti-US military attitude? Try to be informed with facts.

"Tokyo reported 206 novel coronavirus infections Sunday, marking a record fourth straight day of more than 200 new cases, as signs of a resurgence of the pandemic were also seen in neighboring prefectures and Osaka.

Tokyo's single-day figure, the same as on Saturday, was reported amid increasing concern among the public as well as authorities about a potential second wave, given that infection routes for nearly half of the total positive cases confirmed Sunday were unknown.

As of Sunday evening, another 409 cases had been reported across Japan, with Chiba and Osaka prefectures seeing their highest figures since a state of emergency was lifted in May."

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/07/862d8e6951fb-breaking-news-tokyo-reports-206-new-coronavirus-cases-over-200-for-4th-day.html

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