TOKYO, 10 January 2022, (TON): The United States agreed to oblige its military personnel not to leave the territory of the bases in Japan unnecessarily due to the increase in the number of coronavirus infections.

This is stated in a joint statement of the two countries, released on Sunday by the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The measures come into force on January 10 and will last for two weeks.

The document says “the US Armed Forces in Japan will ensure that all personnel wear masks inside and outside military installations, with the exception of private homes. The US Armed Forces in Japan will maintain strict procedures for personnel screening be-fore leaving (from the US) and after entering (in Jap-an), and will also strictly follow the requirements of a 14-day quarantine after entry.”

A sharp rise in coronavi-rus infections was detected at several US bases, including Camp Hansen on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, in late December.

The sites were infected by servicemen recently transferred to Japan as part of a rotation. They did not take PCR tests upon arrival as part of the bilateral agreements in force. However, this requirement is now in effect again.