2 virus-related deaths, 99 local infections recorded on Tuesday

AMMAN — Two virus-related deaths and 103 new COVID-19 cases, including 99 local infections, were recorded in the Kingdom on Tuesday, increasing the caseload to 2,581, said Health Minister Saad Jaber.

The new cases comprised 57 in Amman, 25 in Karak, five in Balqa, seven in Zarqa, three in Jerash and two in Irbid, Jaber said in a press briefing in the Prime Ministry. 

Meanwhile, 68 coronavirus patients left hospitals, the minister noted, adding that 12,104 random tests were conducted on Tuesday nationwide, increasing the total number of tests administered since the outbreak of the pandemic in Jordan to 915,469.

He also said that the source of most infections was weddings, noting that the first person who tested COVID-19 positive in Karak had attended a wedding and two condolences houses.

Also speaking at the press briefing, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said that the ministerial committee for sustaining work, production and supply chains had decided to shorten curfew hours to start from 12 midnight for businesses and from 1am for individuals as of Wednesday across the Kingdom. 

Adaileh said that the government also opted for cancelling the comprehensive curfew in Amman and Zarqa on Fridays and increasing monitoring of places of gathering, such as markets, malls, parks and places of worship to ensure adherence to health measures and physical distancing. 

The government might have to isolate some neighbourhoods or areas that witness increasing number of infections depending on the developments of the epidemiological situation, the minister noted.

He also pointed out that the government has decided to lift the isolation of Al Rabwah neighbourhood in Marka as of Tuesday in light of the “stable” epidemiological situation.

As for halting schooldays at some public and private schools and resorting to remote education, Adaileh said that such decisions are expected.

Also on Tuesday, the UNHCR announced that two Syrian refugees in Al Azraq camp tested positive for COVID-19, noting that they were transferred to the Dead Sea isolation area according to the health protocol, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported citing a UNHCR statement. 

The UN agency said that the two cases are the first to be recorded in refugee camps in Jordan, commending the government's plan to include refugees in the national response plan to combat the virus.