Japan has urged the US military to adhere to coronavirus testing and quarantine rules as a cluster linked to an American base grew to more than 200 cases, AFP reports.

Cases have nosedived in recent months in Japan, which has seen a comparatively low 18,300 Covid-19 deaths during the pandemic.

But in recent days, 215 people linked with the US base Camp Hansen in Japan's southern Okinawa region have tested positive, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said.

Hayashi said he had voiced “strong regret” to the commander of US Forces Japan, Lieutenant General Ricky Rupp, over anti-infection procedures for American military arrivals.