Gov’t prepares truck drop-off yard to ward off coronavirus outbreaks

AMMAN — After a truck driver who came into the Kingdom infected over 50 people so far, the government has begun preparing a JD5 million truck drop-off yard at the Omari crossing to prevent drivers from having to enter the Kingdom.

The driver, who entered the Kingdom two weeks ago and resides in Mafraq infecting more than 50 people since the discovery of his infection.

The government announced on Thursday that 29 people who have contacted him tested positive for the coronavirus, and on Friday 18 more people traced back to him also tested positive. On Saturday seven more cases connected to him were found.

Since the earlier discovery of a truck driver’s infection a few weeks ago, the government decided that all truck drivers must be tested at the border and then made to take an oath to quarantine themselves for 14 days.

However, after the Mafraq incident, the government decided that the drivers will be quarantined under their supervision at a military schools in Azraq area.

“At first we were counting on people’s awareness and did not want to be caught up in logistic troubles, but now a different arrangement must be made,” said Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh at a recent press conference.

Director General of the Land Transportation Regulatory Commission Salah Louzi said in a statement that the government has started preparing the infrastructure for the drop-off yards at the Omari crossing.

The yards will be set up over an area of 40 dunnums at a cost of JD5 million and will be done within 3 weeks, he added.

“The yard will enable freight drivers to bring in their goods into the Kingdom without the need to leave their quarantine caravans,” said Louzi.

He highlighted that the shelters for freight drivers in military schools in Azraq is “only a temporary situations until the quarantine caravans are ready for them,” explaining that drivers will be checked each time they enter the Jordanian border, with their shipments being delivered to their final destination by drivers from inside the Kingdom.

“If the driver wants to go back to Saudi Arabia, his truck will be waiting for him at the border, and if he wants to return to his family, he will be transferred to spend the quarantine period in the caravans in the Dead Sea area and then go home,” said Louzi.

He added: “The cost of residence in these caravans is still not set, but the commission is keen on handling matters in a way that guarantees the flow of goods in addition to preserving the health and safety of citizens.”