U.S. Forces Japan will lift COVID-19 restrictions on activities outside bases in Japan at the end of this month as scheduled, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.
The restrictive measures, such as limiting the movement of U.S. military personnel outside military facilities to essential activities and a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., will end Monday, but the obligation to wear a mask on and off base will be maintained, according to the ministry.
The measures were introduced on Jan. 10 following a surge in coronavirus cases among U.S. military personnel in prefectures such as Okinawa and Yamaguchi that host U.S. military bases, on the back of the rapid spread of the highly contagious omicron variant.
Okinawa has in recent days seen a decline in new COVID-19 cases.
COVID-19 clusters were detected at some U.S. military facilities last month.
The restrictions were extended for a week beyond the original end date.