Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See other free reports here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription.

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Yokota’s 374th Airlift Wing announced a third active coronavirus Wednesday at its base in western Tokyo, which also serves as headquarters for U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force.

“An individual currently in the Yokota community has tested positive July 21 for COVID-19,” said the statement, referring to the respiratory disease caused by the virus. “The current number of active cases at Yokota is 3.”

The patient, who was tested upon arrival at Narita International Airport, had been in “post-travel Restriction of Movement” for one day when the results were received, the statement said. U.S. Forces Japan requires all personnel arriving in Japan to enter quarantine at their residence or a U.S. installation for 14 days.

“The patient is currently in isolation under medical supervision by US military medical providers,” the statement added.

Last week, two people associated with the air base tested positive for the coronavirus. On Monday, the wing confirmed that “a member of the Yokota community who returned from the US to Japan on 17 July” was infected. The previous day, a base postal worker tested positive.

Yokota reported its first coronavirus case in June — a person who also had returned to Japan from the United States. However, an undisclosed number of sailors and support staff tested positive while quarantined at the air base in April and May.

news@stripes.com

Migrated