Update, February 26, 2020: U.S. Forces, Japan Elevates Health Protection Condition and Restricts Non-Essential Travel to the Republic of Korea

U.S. Forces, Japan Elevates Health Protection Condition and Restricts Non-Essential Travel to the Republic of Korea

February 26, 2020

Yokota Air Base, Tokyo – The Commander of U.S. Forces, Japan today announced a decision to elevate the Health Protection Condition within USFJ to “Bravo”. Actions required by units within USFJ during this elevated health protection status include:

• Consideration of limiting or cancelling meetings, training events, formations, large social gatherings, etc…

• Monitoring conditions in areas near U.S. bases and stations and coordination with local health officials

• Encouraging strict hygiene measures, including frequent handwashing, wiping down common surface areas on a regular basis, etc.

• Consideration of additional health screening measures at points of entry to installations if necessary

The overall risk to individual USFJ members in Japan remains low. However, the command encourages strict hygiene measures to reduce the risk of transmission. Those who are ill should coordinate with their organizations in order to stay home and avoid exposing others to infection.

Further information from the Centers for Disease Control is available here:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/coronavirus-japan

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo has additional information available here:

https://jp.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/

The commander also restricted non-essential travel to the Republic of Korea (ROK). This decision followed the Centers for Disease Control decision to increase the risk assessment for the ROK as the Coronavirus spreads in the country.

All official trips to the ROK must be command approved, and all leisure or non-essential travel is prohibited for USFJ personnel and families.

~USFJ~

February 6, 2020

OKINAWA, Japan -- There are no suspected cases of the coronavirus among SOFA personnel on Okinawa.

All of the U.S. military services in Japan are taking this situation seriously and are encouraging
our personnel to be aware of symptoms and avoid spreading misinformation from unofficial
sources. We continue to closely monitor the situation and work with Japanese health officials to
ensure the health and mission readiness of our forces.

Additionally, the U.S. military in Japan is complying with the United States Forces Japan
directive ordering all SOFA personnel who have visited the People’s Republic of China in the
last 14 days to be quarantined inside their homes as a precautionary measure, consistent with
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services directives and guidance from the Government of
Japan.