Items

• 
  2022-04-27

  Life of COVID in Japan

  When COVID first started and until now I have been living in Japan. When it first started to break out things immediately began to lock down and the restrictions of what can and can’t be done began to pop off instantly. Japan is a lot stricter that what at least Arizona has been. I haven’t been to other states so I am unable to express what it is like. Now Japan ever since COVID began locked down their borders and leaving the country or traveling from where I live in Okinawa which is a small island, was extremely difficult. I work in the military and the fight against COVID was to make everyone get vaccinated and if not you were to be separated. Many people began to argue that their religion did not allow it but pretty much 99% of the claims for religion was denied. So once everyone either got the vaccination or was separated things began to get a little bit better. Restaurant began to open up but it would continue to fluctuate between if only outdoor seating was allowed or indoor and outdoor. Travel between prefectures of Japan started to open but only if vaccinated. Although COVID tests were mandatory for travel to happen. Although the US didn’t have their borders locked down, we were still unable to travel to US to see family no matter the reason except a funeral because we had to get back into Japan afterwards. By the time Japan finally opened their borders I finally was able to go home to spend time with family and be around for the holidays for first time in over two years. I think because of this, many people in the military don’t want to stay in no more because the ability to do many things aren’t able to be done. The military has to work with the country of Japan to make sure all is well between each other so the government’s power and military’s power restricted everyone from being able to do the many fun things Japan has to offer. Although, now in 2022, things are beginning to open up and things are going back to more normal barring another variant forces Japan to go into a state of emergency.
• 
  2020-07-11

  HPCON C Guidance at Camp Hansen, Okinawa

  These orders, captured in this screenshot from Marine Corps Base Camp Hansen's Facebook page, stipulate what personnel can and cannot do as the III Marine Expeditionary Force battled a COVID-19 outbreak on this and other bases on Okinawa in early July 2020. A testament to COVID's sneaky transmission, not even secure military facilities could seal themselves off from the virus, prompting them to close down even tighter as their European counterparts did in the early months of the pandemic. Note: "HP Con C" stands for "Health Protection Condition Charlie," which means that there is substantial community transmission of a pathogen in the area.
• 
  2020-07-15

  Camp Hansen COVID Update From the Camp Commander

  This screenshot of a letter distributed to all Marine Corps and Navy personnel and their families aboard Camp Hansen in Okinawa details the service's priorities in the weeks ahead, as Marine Corps bases across the island do battle against a potentially deadly pathogen. Those priorities include preserving the Force, protecting the Marine Corps-Okinawa relationship, and "generate combat power" to deal with the COVID threat that struck Camp Hansen in July of 2020.
• 
  2020-04-07

  Taketomi Island: At Least Wear a Mask Please

  A poster created by a community organization on the island of Taketomi, in Okinawa prefecture, Japan, reading "At least, wear a mask, please." Taketomi is famous for its traditional Okinawan village environment - it's one of the best places in all of Japan for visitors to experience the white sand paths, limestone walls, and red terracotta roofs of a traditional Okinawan village. The island's residents rely very heavily on tourism revenue to get by. However, an epidemic like Covid19 can quickly overwhelm and devastate a local community like this. The rest of the poster reads: せめてマスクを着用して下さい 竹富島に観光で訪れた皆さまへ ＊竹富島はオジーオバーが非常に多いです。竹富公民館員数２８２名の内103名が70歳以上の高齢者です。 ＊竹富島は小さな診療所が１つだけしかありません。醫師１名看護師1名事務1名のみ。新型コロナウイルス感染者がいても対応できません。 To everyone visiting Taketomi Island for tourism: At least wear a mask please. Taketomi Island has an extremely high number of grannies and granddads. Of the 282 members of the local citizens' organization, 103 are elders over 70 years old. Taketomi Island has only one small clinic. There is only one doctor, one nurse, and one admin staff. Even if someone were to have coronavirus, they can't respond to it.
• 2020-05-23

  Covid19 in Okinawa Timeline Discussion Thread

  An English-language discussion thread for updates on the coronavirus situation in Okinawa.
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  2020-04-25

  Okinawa: Sorry We Are Closed

  One of a series of digital posters produced by the Save Okinawa Project, depicting sites in Okinawa and encouraging people to not visit the islands right now. It reads: おきなわ、休業中 Sorry, We Are Closed 今や人口100万人に対する感染率は全国14位（2020年4月24日現在）。県民も感染防止のために外出を控えたり、休業して頑張っています。沖縄旅行は、今は控えてほしい。お互いに健康になってから、シマを一緒に満喫しましょう。 今、沖縄を満喫できない３つの理由 1）観光施設やビーチが閉まっている ２）娯楽施設が閉まっている ３）医療施設がキャパオーバー（病床数40程度：入院患者数112人） Okinawa, closed for business right now. Right now, our infection rate per 1 million people is 14th in the country (as of 2020/4/24). Residents of the prefecture are also refraining from going out, shutting down operations, trying hard to prevent the spread of infection. Right now, we want you to refrain from Okinawa travel. Once we both are well, let's fully enjoy the islands. Three reasons you cannot fully enjoy Okinawa right now: 1) tourist sites and beaches are closed 2) entertainment venues are closed 3) medical facilities are over-capacity (112 hospitalized patients for each 40 hospital beds)
• 
  2020-04-08

  Save Okinawa Project

  A Facebook group promoting efforts to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in Okinawa.