23 new COVID-19 cases recorded Monday

AMMAN — The Kingdom on Monday registered 23 new cases of COVID-19, increasing the total number of infections to 831 since the beginning of the pandemic, according to Health Minister Saad Jaber.

The new cases include 11 new arrivals who have been placed in quarantine, six truck drivers at the Omari border crossing and another six individuals who were in contact with an infected person in Amman, Jaber said during a press conference broadcast live from the Prime Ministry.  

The minister noted that 20 people left hospitals on Monday, while a total of 6,650 random tests were carried out.

He added that the Health Ministry has not yet identified the source of infection of a dentist in Amman.

Also speaking at the conference, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said that the government may impose a comprehensive curfew on the weekend if 10 local cases are registered for seven days. 

Adaileh reiterated the importance of committing to public safety and preventive measures, as well as wearing gloves and applying physical distancing.

The minister stressed that legal action will be taken against institutions whose employees and visitors do not adhere to safety regulations. 

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Mazen Faraiah, director of operations at the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management’s crisis cell, said that 17,000 Jordanians have applied online to return to the Kingdom via air transport and another 5,000 to return through land borders. 

Faraiah noted that 200 citizens are expected to return to Jordan from Syria and Lebanon on Tuesday and 150 Jordanians from Iraq on Thursday, as well as 1,550 Jordanian citizens from Saudi Arabia.