Army constructs quarantine sites with 1,000 rooms for students returning to Kingdom

2,100 additional rooms have been reserved at Dead Sea hotels — crisis cell

By JT - Apr 21,2020 - Last updated at Apr 21,2020

Quarantine sites being built by the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army for students returning from abroad are expected to be finished by the weekend, Director of operations at the Coronavirus Crisis Cell Brig. Gen. Mazen Faraiah said in an interview with the Jordan News Agency, Petra on Tuesday (Petra photo)

AMMAN — Director of operations at the Coronavirus Crisis Cell Brig. Gen. Mazen Faraiah on Tuesday said that Jordanian students studying abroad will be quarantined at public quarantine sites or Dead Sea hotels immediately upon their return to the Kingdom as part of the government's efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Faraiah told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, in an interview that 1,000 rooms at quarantine sites currently being built by the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army have been designated to accommodate the students during their 17-day quarantine period, adding that air-conditioning, television sets and communication and Internet services will be provided.

He noted that JD15 per day will be charged for each room, including meals and drinks.

Faraiah highlighted that 2,100 additional rooms have been reserved at hotels, where the Ministry of Health will oversee medical matters. For each hotel room, JD70 will be charged per night.

The quarantine sitescurrently under construction will be ready by the weekend, he said, adding that the Royal Medical Services (RMS) will be responsible for health and preventive matters at the sites.

The authorities have not designated youth homes or hostels in the governorates for quarantine purposes for health, security and logistical reasons, Faraiah noted. He added that the Dead Sea area was designated "for its ease and better means to control the pandemic".

The director said that the Dead Sea Road will be closed in both directions after the arrival of the first group of students.

Returnees to the Kingdom will undergo nose and throat swab tests at the airport, after which they will be transported to the quarantine sites, which will be sealed off until the end of the mandatory isolation period, he said.

Earlier during the crisis, the government had placed 5,000 people under quarantine at hotels in the Dead Sea area, Amman and Aqaba with all expenses paid, Petra reported Faraiah as saying.

However, given the large number of students, which could reach 35,000, authorities cannot afford to bear the accommodation costs, he added.

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