Okinawa may declare emergency Covid measures as virus spreads from US base
by Justin McCurry in Tokyo from World news | The Guardian on (#5TNV3)
New cases on island outpacing those in Tokyo amid criticism of US forces for failing to contain Omicron outbreak
Japan's government is poised to declare a quasi-state of emergency on the southern island of Okinawa, media reports said, after a Covid-19 outbreak traced to US military bases spread to the civilian population.
The prime minister, Fumio Kishida, could announce the measures this week, the Mainichi newspaper said, after Okinawa officials reported 225 new cases on Tuesday, including 47 of the Omicron strain. Tokyo, by comparison, registered 151 new infections.
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