Jordan among several highlighted countries with coronavirus success stories

AMMAN — An article titled “Vietnam, Slovenia, and 3 other overlooked coronavirus success stories” commends the Jordanian government’s efforts to contain the coronavirus crisis.

In the article, on Vox.com, owned by Vox Media and based in Washington DC and New York City, the writer Alex Ward writes: “From Slovenia to Jordan to Iceland, governments took early action to impose lockdowns, test and trace thousands of people, isolate the sick, encourage social distancing and preventive measures like mask wearing, and communicate honestly with the public,” designating a sub-headline for each country and its government’s efforts. 

Ward writes that Jordan’s first confirmed coronavirus case arrived on March 2 saying: “But five weeks before that, the country’s committee to combat the disease — formed as news about an outbreak in China came out — already had protocols in place.”

The article highlights the closure of schools, businesses and government offices as of mid-March, in addition to closing the borders and committing “repatriated Jordanians” to a 14-day mandatory quarantine in designated 4- and 5-star hotels. 

It also highlights His Majesty King Abdullah’s directives to the government to pass “emergency laws to allow the military to enforce a strict lockdown and curfew”.

“These swift and forceful actions, in the minds of Jordanian officials, is what has kept the country to under 500 confirmed cases and about 10 deaths as of May 5,” Ward writes. 

He cites Bassam Hijjawi, an epidemiologist in the National Epidemiological Committee, as saying “timing was key for us” to Al Jazeera in April. 

“The lockdown continues, with a siren ringing every day at 6pm across the country to remind everyone they should be at home until 10am the following morning,” the article says, also highlighting the ban on public gatherings, including prayers and funerals, and how violations could lead to fines or imprisonment. 

“While the vast majority of people stay at home, the government is testing about 2,000 to 3,000 people a day to track the disease and those in contact with infected people,” Ward writes.

Prior to ban of public gatherings, Ward notes how Jordan had close calls, such as the wedding in Irbid attended by 450 people in spite of the government’s advice against large gatherings, he writes “and soon cases shot up there”.

He also adds: “The government quickly sprang to action, though, imposing the nation’s harshest lockdown measures and cutting off the city of over 1 million people from the rest of the country.”

Following all these events, the article highlights the recent government decisions to ease restrictions on economic activity with many businesses going back to work while conditions and instructions of social distancing and following health standards remain in place.

“However, schools will remain closed and the curfew remains in place,” he adds.

In the segment on Jordan, Ward concludes with, “What’s clear, then, is that Jordan acted far sooner than most to contain its outbreak. Preparing for a problem and then following through on that plan actually works. Imagine that.”

In the article, with the sub-headline, “They all followed a similar playbook that thus far have helped curb a larger coronavirus outbreak,” Ward also wrote about Vietnam, Slovenia, Iceland and Greece in their efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.