MCAS Iwakuni has learned from GOJ quarantine officials that the case of COVID-19 reported on July 15, 2020 was miscommunicated to be positive. The individual traveler has tested negative for COVID-19. Despite the negative test, the affected individual remains in a restriction of movement status, as necessitated by USFJ policy, due to their international travel.

Newly arrived personnel from outside Japan continue to conduct 14-days restriction of movement as soon as they arrive aboard the air station. At this time, the process for retrieving civilian arrivals from Japanese international airports is being refined to ensure continued compliance with GOJ policy and to safeguard the health and safety of the local Japanese community.

We reaffirm that the isolated incident on July 13 that resulted in the only confirmed positive cases aboard the air station poses a low risk of exposure to our on and off base community. On-base contact tracing has concluded and coordination with local health authorities in support of contact tracing off-base is ongoing. The circumstances of this incident are still under investigation. Failure to abide by the policies in place increase the risk to our host nation and local population, and may result in administrative or disciplinary action.