Irbid sees negative test results from random samples, patient contacts; 5 move towards recovery

By JT - Apr 16,2020 - Last updated at Apr 17,2020

Five patients infected with COVID-19 in Irbid are nearing recovery and are likely to be discharged from King Abdullah University Hospital, according to officials (JT file photo)

AMMAN — Member of the National Epidemiological Committee and the official overseeing coronavirus developments in the north Wael Hayajneh on Thursday said that five persons infected with COVID-19 are nearing recovery and are likely to be discharged from King Abdullah University Hospital.

Irbid has not recorded any new cases of infection as of Thursday afternoon, according to random testing conducted in the area, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported Hayajneh as saying.

He noted that the 25 epidemiological inspection teams working in the governorate have collected more than 6,500 samples since the beginning of the crisis, reflecting the “great effort” they are exerting as “the first line of defence” against the virus.

Head of the epidemiological inspection teams in Irbid Ali Zaitawi on Thursday said that there is “no intention” to isolate the Irbid neighbourhood where a nurse who tested positive for COVID-19 lives.

Zaitawi told Petra that the nurse visited his home in Azmi Al Mufti camp in Irbid for a short period of time, coming from Amman where he works at a private hospital.

The patient came into contact with a limited number of family members, who will all be isolated along with their contacts, he added.

Zaitawi said that 150 samples collected on Wednesday by epidemiological inspection teams are being analysed. Those tested include the contacts of the truck driver who is infected with the coronavirus and the owners of the shops he visited, in addition to those who came into close contact with him.

The official said that results of samples taken from 84 people who were the closest to the driver came back negative, adding that this is “an indication that the rest of the samples will be negative as well”.

Since Wednesday, epidemiological inspection teams have been tracking drivers coming from outside the Kingdom into Irbid to conduct tests and take samples from them, noting that they have followed up with around 40 drivers so far, he said.

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