Last week, governor asked III Marine Expeditionary Force commander Lt. Gen. James Bierman Jr. to stop flying in new personnel. He also requested that all Camp Hansen workers be tested for the virus, and that U.S. personnel be barred from leaving the base.
Three Okinawa-based Marines were indicted last month in Japanese courts for allegedly attempting to smuggle cannabis into the country through the mail.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed “deep regret” that a unit of Marines was not tested for COVID-19 before it arrived on Okinawa aboard a U.S. government flight.
A spokesman said five Marines from Camp Schwab were snorkeling when three were swept away from shore. The incident began shortly before 3:25 p.m. Saturday just off Sosu Beach on the northeastern tip of Okinawa.
The Marine Corps said it was unable to find the source of toxins reportedly discovered last year in the drinking water of a community adjacent to a Marine base on Okinawa, according to a statement.