Okinawa eyes partial shutdown, governor Tamaki calls for prevention measures over New Year’s as Okinawa confirms more coronavirus cases

Okinawa eyes partial shutdown, governor Tamaki calls for prevention measures over New Year’s as Okinawa confirms more coronavirus cases

Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki asking Okinawans to take measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 – December 27, Okinawa Prefectural Office in Naha


December 28, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Teppei Ikeda and Yukito Toyama

 

Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki gave a press conference on December 27, where he spoke on increased cases of COVID-19 in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island, as well as the spread of the omicron variant largely in and around U.S. military bases, stressing, “we are at the start of a new trend,” and once again asked Okinawans to thoroughly adhere to coronavirus prevention measures over the New Year’s holiday. The same day, five new cases were confirmed in Okinawa for people in their fifties and sixties. The governor warned that if this new wave continues to spread, “we may be forced to enact a partial shutdown.”

Governor Tamaki indicated that the new community transmitted cases could potentially be the new omicron variant, brought to the island from outside of the prefecture, and asked people to take PCR tests before travelling home for the New Year’s holiday. He asked that in order to not crowd emergency rooms, that people drink in moderation and take care of their health, and if someone begins to show symptoms such as a fever, to call the Okinawa Call Center or use the pediatric emergency care hotline (#8000).

So far, there have been 10 confirmed cases of the omicron variant in Okinawa. Additionally, there are four cases that could possibly be the omicron variant, and 8 suspected cases total. Two of the four cases are employees at Camp Hansen and Kadena Air Base. Another of the omicron cases was a family member of a Camp Hansen worker, and the final suspected omicron cases is also the family member of someone connected to the military bases.

The five new cases confirmed on December 27 each come from a different area, one in each of Northern Okinawa, Nago, Okinawa City, Ginowan, and Urasoe. Among the five cases, two are employees of  the Northern Okinawa Health Department’s elderly care facility, where there was a cluster outbreak that affected 32 people (22 patients and 10 employees).

There were 11 new positive cases confirmed for people with a connection to the U.S. military. There were six cases from Kadena Air Base, and five at Camp Hansen. Camp Hansen is experiencing a cluster of around 260 cases.

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

 

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