politics

Kono: U.S. military coronavirus policy has multiple problems

43 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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43 Comments
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If you look hard enough of course there will be problems. I find it very hypocritical that Kono, Deny, and all these politicians complain about the military, but it is because the military is doing it's damndest to find those who are infected and isolate them. They are testing EVERYONE!

That is a HELL of a lot more than the Japanese government does!

Japan is the PERFECT example of the US Military CIC when he stated, (paraphrasing) "When you test a lot sure there will be more cases! We should test less to keep the numbers down!)

Deny and Company are hypocrites!

-1 ( +14 / -15 )

Outside the bases, Okinawa has reported only about 150 coronavirus cases. Nationwide, Japan has confirmed 20,000 cases including about 1,000 deaths.

We went well over 2 months with ZERO cases here. There have been 2 recently, but those were from folks from here who traveled "up there" and brought it back!

1 ( +10 / -9 )

Were those problems any more severe than the cluster of newly infected people in a theater in shinjuku? Doubt it.

There are 18,000 of them there, a 100 people infected in confined space such as the base is normal.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

18,000 of Americans and 4000 of Japanese.

Even more, when rechecked the numbers.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Seems like the biggest problem is that they're actually testing and actually reporting.

A coworker here in Osaka recently had a 4 day fever. They refused to test him for covid19 unless his symptoms got worse or he had a fever for more than a week.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

No mask, don't tell.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Tamaki in telephone talks Saturday with Lt Gen H Stacy Clardy, commander of III Marine Expeditionary Force, demanded the U.S. military increase transparency, improve disease prevention measures, stop sending personnel from the mainland U.S. to Okinawa and seal the bases.

Can someone tell me how quickly the Japan government responds to these same demands from the Japanese people in a timely manner? Asking for a friend.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Yes the Japanese shouldn't be concerned, it's just 95 cases so far.

If left to their own devices im sure they can contain the infection.

Me I'm just a little surprised to hear that suddenly there was 61 cases the other day.

Well they probably reported the first case, I just missed it.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Me I'm just a little surprised to hear that suddenly there was 61 cases the other day.

Well they probably reported the first case, I just missed it.

This is only because one local newspaper, started reporting it, and it caught on with the world news.

I got a message from a family member in the US asking if we were ok here with all the "outrage" in Okinawa over this issue. The press is overdoing it again here.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

A coworker here in Osaka recently had a 4 day fever. They refused to test him for covid19 unless his symptoms got worse or he had a fever for more than a week.

It really depends upon the hospital it seems. If one goes through the "suggested" route of calling the prefecture hotline, they will delay, next to forever it seems, before setting someone up for a test.

I wrote this on another thread, but I know someone who went to a "regular" hospital and the doctor said, "With all this COVID going on let's test you!", They did a CT scan of her chest, took swabs for influenza and PCR.

All were fortunately negative, but the point is, I would suggest not going through the "prefecture" if someone is really concerned, and find one of these hospitals that will test you right away!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It seems to me any foreigners or official guests from terribly infected countries should not bring any potential virus/disease in the first place. They should not enter land of Japan until end of 14 day quarantine and test is negative.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I do not think Kono hypocritical at all. People's attitude to the COVID 2019 is very different in U.S. and Japan. Americans are bold while Japanese nervous.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

re: "The U.S. military has told Okinawa that all infected people have been isolated and the bases are virtually under lockdown, officials said."

Not all bases only those within Okinawa. aka formerly known as the Ryukyu Kingdom islets chain.

However on joint bases the SDF aka JSDF are allowed to go anywhere unless my neighbor is not following the rules, because he pretty much goes anywhere including Tokyo, and any part of Japan he feels like camping out. He doesn't wear a mask nor his wife. They both seem ok each time I see them. hmmm. I know the base he works at a joint base was locked down and all base personnel were to stay put but he took off and went fishing and camping anyway. The rules don't apply to the SDF? I don't know but it seems they dont'.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

It’s not rocket science.

Lock down all bases.

Ban any ships or planes from entering Japan. Test all remaining military. Quarantine base contract workers for two weeks with testing.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

It seems to me any foreigners or official guests from terribly infected countries should not bring any potential virus/disease in the first place. They should not enter land of Japan until end of 14 day quarantine and test is negative.

Agree.

It doesn't even have to be for the other countries.

They shouldn't have done it even for just the safety of their fellow citizens and soldiers. And their families are there too.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I wrote this on another thread, but I know someone who went to a "regular" hospital and the doctor said, "With all this COVID going on let's test you!", They did a CT scan of her chest, took swabs for influenza and PCR. -Yubaru

Yeah, I had another coworker who had to have emergency surgery and she was made to do Covid19 tests. Seems like the trick is to pretend you don't have symptoms if you actually want to get tested.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Like I wrote yesterday and even before that: outrage and front page all day every day. Worry about your own country's measures and test the damn populace. What hypocrites Kono and Tamaki are but we all knew the policy when it comes to the U.S. military.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Yeah, I had another coworker who had to have emergency surgery and she was made to do Covid19 tests.

In my old hospital, surgery patients were tested for TB, HIV and Hepatitis.

the one now, doesn’t have SARS-CoV-2 testing.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think the US bases / military should do their own policing. It's always ugly when others have to point out your faults or weaknesses.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Japan controls Japanese people according to their standard and U.S. bases in Japan controls their people according to their U.S. standard. Do we have two different standards to tackle the COVD 19? Will not that invite problems? Do we have foreign concessions within Japan? I share the feelings of Okinawans who think Americans there arrogant.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Kono wants Abe's job. Debacle one after another, that gets him score with voters but lots of headaches for Abe. Most recent was the Aegis ashore cancellation, how many country rely on local political opposition as a driver of strategic defense policy? Just as well he is only in the defense portfolio, imagine if he was still foreign minister....sigh.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Is this hotel used for the 14 day quarantine on base?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Outside the bases, Okinawa has reported only about 150 coronavirus cases. Nationwide, Japan has confirmed 20,000 cases including about 1,000 deaths.

So there's less cases on base than off and local officials are concerned why?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

If I lived in Okinawa the part of the article that said there are only 150 reported cases would make me feel very secure and relieved. The Marines having almost that many cases (2/3) reminds me of the cruise ship in Yokohama incident. I would not feel secure knowing that the military has introduced that many new cases. Then again, it is not like the Yokohama cruise ship hot spot because the military has better means to contain the spread.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

It is not about testing, Okinawa was doing everything well since the beginning the of the pandemic of Japan, Okinawa really locked down, not partially. And every body were using their own PPE, mostly masks and keeping social distance.

Fortunately, Okinawa only have just a few deaths due to Covid, but on the contrary Okinawa's economy was significantly impacted because of the lock down. A lot of businesses, specially local business have to close, some others "survived", but if there is another lock down, they will disappear. It is not fair that because USM ilitary did not follow the rules Okinawa's economy and health system get strike again. Okinawa cannot afford another lock down, and as Deny said, health care system may be will not be enough if the pandemic spreads as sharply as it has been among Bases.

I think USMilitary, should be treated as any American citizen, who are currently not allowed to enter to Japan or make them mandatory to keep the quarantine (in a facility inside base).

Currently the hotel they're using for the quarantine is off-base, in Chatan. and Chatan /Okinawa govnt. is testing lots and lots of people there.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

And maybe Kono can explain Japan's, 'let your civilians go straight home from abroad' policy.....

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The US military. The influx of soldiers and sailors from the US or other spots on the planet into Japan, is a very large concern. Any interaction with the Japanese public should be banned, wholesale. The bases should be locked down until there is a vaccine. The USA has the worst response to SARSCoV-2 on the planet and the highest number of ongoing cases. US troops should be treated the same as US citizens, they are not allowed into Japan. Or they are only allowed to arrive directly on base and quarantined for two weeks. Navy ships arriving in Japan should be subjected to a quarantine and made to sit offshore for 45 days, as was protocol when quarantine was first established for marine vessels. Or sent to Guam, a U.S. protectorate. The spread of SARSCoV-2 aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt is a prime example of the reason to contain U.S. military personnel. There were over a 1,000 cases onboard. The inept and confused response is not a unique situation and more so standard in the U.S. military bureaucracy. The SDF needs to cease cooperative training and operational procedures with the U.S. military. Civilian Japanese workers on U.S. bases need to either be isolated or remain on base.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

As I wrote yesterday. Put the infected ones on a american transport plane and send them back.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

RE: @ Sh1mon M4sadaToday  10:40 am JST

Kono wants Abe's job. Debacle one after another, that gets him score with voters but lots of headaches for Abe. Most recent was the Aegis ashore cancellation, how many country rely on local political opposition as a driver of strategic defense policy? Just as well he is only in the defense portfolio, imagine if he was still foreign minister....sigh.

Sh1mon interesting point you brought up, because unless I'm wrong we never hear from Kono unless the spotlight is turned on. Where was he during the great quake and radiation exposure? Sure as didn't see him visiting anywhere nor his concerns. This guy seems to be absent a lot when it counts.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It is not about testing, Okinawa was doing everything well since the beginning the of the pandemic of Japan, Okinawa really locked down, not partially. And every body were using their own PPE, mostly masks and keeping social distance.

You obviously dont live here, because there was no "lock down" And even though people cooperated with the government's requests, they have short memories because I am seeing far too many that are not practicing safe social distancing nor wearing masks now.

The rest of what you wrote is pure speculation, and any further safety measures from the government will not be because of the military, it will be because of Japanese from mainland screwing things up by importing it here from there.

The US military is testing like crazy and per-capita, there are over 50,000 military here, and they have already done (literally) thousands, if not close to 10,000 or more tests, basically 1 in 5 or so, so far, and the numbers are increasing daily!

So, Japan needs to quit with the hypocritical complaints about "numbers" because the military is doing a far better job than they are.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

And when japan start to test everyone with symptoms?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The narrative must be being spun that the Americans have the virus themselves and in no way contracted it from the general public after a less than strict quarantine. Either that is true, or the infection rate is so high in Japan that they dare not test for it

As well from the bases there is actual testing going on, so anything will be 10x worse than anything being tested for locally. Japan will be forced to test just to clarify the situation, and they don't want that, hence the smokescreen deployment, Kono

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I don't think we need advice from you Mr. Kono. Japan sorely needs to take an honest look at its own policies first. Remind me what the policy is here?.....oh yeah....test as little as possible and brush aside anyone with symptoms. Oh ok.....

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I don't think we need advice from you Mr. Kono. Japan sorely needs to take an honest look at its own policies first. Remind me what the policy is here?.....oh yeah....test as little as possible and brush aside anyone with symptoms. Oh ok.....

No one should be surprised. Abe's Japan is doing what Trump wanted to happen in America.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

This clown is that LAST person to talk about Corona virus problems. He's been hell-bent on saying there aren't any problems in Japan and the Olympics and Go To program should go ahead as the numbers sky-rocket.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Kono san. U are perfectly right.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Leadership goes from the top downwards. The lack of leadership in the US is reflected in the lack of leadership at US military facilities around the world.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yubaru, I do live in Okinawa city.

At beginning , okinawa was reluctant to take actions but after the girl that came back from Spain and cases increased, Okinawa Gvnt. started to improve their actions. I dont where have you been, but Rycom was closed since April until June, except for Max Value. Shopping places like "ishibas" and some other markets reduced their working time, a lot of restaurants changed their service for "to go or take out". In every establishment that I go they encourage you to wear a mask and all the employees are using it (this is mandatory). They also provide alcohol/chlorine solution for hands and for cleaning the baskets. On the floor they have stickers showing social distance. The gyms also were closed, both those from the government and privates. The cinema in Rycom opened recently, the one in Chatan was still closed two weeks ago when I was there. The parks were closed, they even cut off all the flowers ,White Lilys, from the Athetlic Park Okinawa to avoid gatherings to have the "okinawan hanami". They also cancelled a lot of events.

The locals at the airport were almost closed when I flew on March.

After they opened, they counted the number of people who enter to some establishments: Uniqlo, Kaldi, Nittori, Gu, etc. The caffes like Tullys, the food court of Rycom, some others in Takahara, etc. they have their tables separated and with fewer chairs. The used to take the temperature. And they also have "stations " to take the temperature and use alcohol.

The measurements got relaxed after 50 days of no new infections, and just this month of July, they stopped counting people and taking the temperature, because Okinawa was kind of free on new cases. And yes, the attitude towards the covid turn into a more relaxed , because we have been free of new cases for more than 60 (sixty) days.

You may be did not have the opportunity to go around, or read Japanese news papers, or go to the hospital, because it is hard to believe that you did not noticed any of this.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The rest of what you wrote is pure speculation, and any further safety measures from the government will not be because of the military, it will be because of Japanese from mainland screwing things up by importing it here from there.

have you been in Chatan? have you noticed how many establishments are not there any more? For example a drug store, Matsumoto, they sold everything, they were on bargain for a month, the last day they even give you a lot of food products as a present when you bough more that 2000 yen. Why,some of the products were about to expire and they needed to get rid of everything , they closed the local, the same with the clothes store next it. And another gift shop, just opened to sell everything and get ready to vacate the place.

A restaurant of soba, that i really like, they sell to go, and did not fire out he personnel but they decreased they working hours and payment.

This is not speculation.

Do you know how many people couldnt work due to the restrictions to enter to the Bases?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

" Any interaction with the Japanese public should be banned, wholesale. The bases should be locked down until there is a vaccine"

What's your plan for those who live off base, including the army of civilian contractors employed by the military? They live and shop in town. Unless a contractor is also a veteran they can't use the commissary or exchange on base. They have to shop in town. A significant proportion of the military attached to overseas bases live off base. It's one of the attractions used to get members to accept orders to some of these places because moving a family overseas is unbelievably disruptive to their lives. Far easier to take orders within the US (surprise, service members negotiate with their detailers over their next posting because where they go and what job they take next has implications for their next promotion and whether they can remain in the military until retirement). It's not as simple a situation as you might think.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Dessert Tortoise, I agree.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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