The US military has begun announcing the number of novel coronavirus cases at its bases in Japan.

The total number of cases stood at 140 as of July 16, according to information released on the website of the US Forces Japan.

Japan had been urging the US military to release information regarding infections among people related to its facilities in the Asian nation, after cases began increasing this month.

 “US troops in Japan are working hard to alleviate worries among residents of (base-hosting) local communities,” Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono said at a press conference Tuesday.

Kono also said that polymerase chain reaction tests for the novel coronavirus will be conducted on Japanese workers at the bases in Okinawa Prefecture, after a cluster of infections occurred among base-related people in the southernmost Japan prefecture.

Store employees and others who tend to have contact with many people will be given priority in the tests, according to the Defense Minister.

JIJI Press