43 local virus cases recorded Wednesday

AMMAN — Forty-four virus cases, including 43 local infections, were registered in the Kingdom on Wednesday, increasing the caseload to 1,482, according to Health Minister Saad Jaber.

The new infections included 22 workers at the Omari border crossing — 18 Egyptians, two Pakistani nationals and two Jordanians, the minister announced during a press briefing held at the Prime Ministry.

Three infections in Ramtha, who are contacts of individuals who had tested COVID-19 positive, are among the cases.

In addition, the local cases also comprised 15 infections in Amman, who are contacts of COVID-19 patients, including 11 Jordanians, three Egyptians and an Iraqi national, the health minister said. 

Two cases from Zarqa and another in Aqaba were also among the domestic infections, he said.

Jaber added that the number of infections since two Fridays ago has reached 195. 

Sixteen recoveries were registered during the last 24 hours, the minister said. 

A total of 7,294 random virus tests were also conducted on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative number of coronavirus tests administered since the beginning of the crisis to 713,214, he said, highlighting that 75 new teams have joined the epidemiological team. 

Regarding the reopening of schools and universities, the health minister said that the government has designed a protocol in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and related bodies.

He drew attention to the importance of parents’ role in raising students’ awareness about abiding by physical distancing, using sterilisers and washing hands.

Affirming that the government is working within a “clear” strategy to address the developments related to the epidemiological situation, the minister highlighted that plans are in place to contain “the worst-case scenario in which the Kingdom’s health system might be overwhelmed”.

Jaber attributed the increase in the number of local infections to “recklessness, flouting of health norms at border crossings, the public’s resumption of celebrations and gatherings, and the denial by some of the coronavirus’ existence and its dangers”.

He stressed that one patient has transmitted the virus to 38 others. 

The health minister also urged the public to avoid gatherings and celebrations that violate safety measures, calling for abiding by physical distancing, wearing face masks and using sterilisers, as well avoiding visits during the holiday.