9 June

The US Defense Department has announced a phased easing of travel restrictions for military service members, their families and department officials.

A statement released on Monday says restrictions will be removed for five countries, including Japan, Germany and Britain, and for 38 US states and Washington D.C.

The locations were judged to have met all the necessary criteria, including the removal of shelter-in-place orders, and a decline in newly confirmed cases of COVID-19.

More than 7,200 US service members have been infected with the coronavirus, including those on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. But the rate of infection is now on a declining trend.

Military training and drills have been canceled or curtailed since March when the travel restrictions were imposed. The phased lifting is apparently aimed at reducing the impact on US military operations.

NHK