PM hails Jordan’s early measures as additional sectors reopen

AMMAN — Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Omar Razzaz on Thursday said that procedures announced by the government to reopen new economic sectors will have a positive impact on the economy.

Speaking from the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management, Razzaz announced an array of phases for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, which include a series of procedures and decisions to reopen further economic and service sectors.

The phases involve five levels of risk, ranging from “critical” to “low”.

The prime minister noted that these procedures coincide with the lifting of quarantines on several areas in Mafraq, Irbid and Jerash and other governorates.

He also stated that a total of 498,000 Jordanian workers have benefitted from protection programmes launched by the Central Bank of Jordan, the Social Security Corporation and the National Aid Fund during the pandemic.

Razzaz said that countries that were late in dealing with the pandemic “have paid the price twice”, and suffered economic and health repercussions, noting that Jordan’s early preparations contributed to the results seen at present.

As for the Defence Law, the prime minister said that the government is looking forward to the day on which it issues the last defence order once the Kingdom enters the “low risk” level.

Razzaz noted that the government is committed to applying the Defence Law at its minimum levels, without affecting private property or public freedoms.