Lt. Gen. Kevin Schneider, the U.S. Forces Japan commander, on Monday declared a public health emergency for military bases on the Kanto Plain in and around Tokyo, reports Stars & Stripes.

"Due to the steady increase in COVID-19 cases in the Tokyo area, I have implemented a Public Health Emergency for the Kanto Plains region," Schneider said in a statement. "This order covers all Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine installations and facilities in the area."

The move comes hours after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a national state of emergency over the growing coronavirus epidemic in the country.

Abe’s action takes place Tuesday and covers most of Japan’s densely populated metro areas. The declaration will be in place for one month. The military’s guidance will be in effect until at least May 5, per Stars & Stripes.

“I cannot underscore enough the importance of personal responsibility at a time like this,” said Schneider. “Stopping the spread of [the coronavirus] requires the entire team – service members, civilians, families, and our Japanese partners. The virus makes no exceptions based on military or civilian status, and our policies and procedures won’t either.”

Tokyo has exceeded 1,000 COVID-19 infections, doubling its cases in less than a week. So far, Japan has 85 confirmed deaths.

Kanto Plain installations include Yokosuka Naval Base, Yokota Air Base, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Camp Zama and the Marine Corps’ Camp Fuji training area.

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