23 COVID deaths, 2,444 infections recorded Tuesday

AMMAN — Twenty-three COVID-19 deaths and 2,444 virus cases were recorded in the Kingdom on Tuesday, increasing the caseload to 279,892, the government announced.

The new fatalities took the Kingdom’s coronavirus death toll to 3,627, according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Health.

The cases comprised 777 infections in Amman, 736 in Irbid, including 66 in Ramtha District, 217 in Zarqa, 153 in Balqa, 47 in Karak, 82 in Aqaba, 67 in Jerash, 49 in Madaba, 137 in Ajloun, 37 in Maan, including five in Petra District, 46 in Tafileh and 96 in Mafraq.

The statement added that there are currently 27,009 active COVID-19 cases in Jordan.

A total of 135 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals on Tuesday, taking the number of patients currently receiving care for COVID-19 in hospitals to 1,041, the statement said, adding that 120 recovered patients left hospitals.

The statement revealed that the number of isolation beds occupied by COVID-19 patients in hospitals on Monday totalled 877, registering an occupancy rate of 21 per cent, while a total of 307 ICU beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, at a rate of 33 per cent.

A total of 152 ventilators were used for treating COVID-19 patients, at an occupancy rate of 18 per cent.

The statement added that 3,088 recoveries were registered in hospitals and home quarantine on Tuesday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 249,256.

A total of 19,085 virus tests were also conducted on Tuesday, bringing the cumulative number of coronavirus tests administered since the outbreak of the pandemic to 3,002,173, with the share of tests returning a positive result, known as positive rate, standing at 12.81 per cent, the statement added.

The Ministry of Health has renewed its call on the public to abide by defence orders, as well as to adhere to precautionary measures, mainly wearing face masks and avoiding holding gatherings that exceed 20 people, according to the statement.

The ministry also called on the public to follow its “I Protect Them” awareness campaign, which aims to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through increasing public commitment to preventive measures to protect individuals and their beloved ones.