26 COVID deaths, 1,540 virus cases recorded Sunday

AMMAN — Twenty-six COVID-19 deaths and 1,540 virus cases were recorded in the Kingdom on Sunday, increasing the caseload to 298,208, the government announced.

The new fatalities took the Kingdom’s coronavirus death toll to 3,903, according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Health.

The cases comprised 559 infections in Amman, 513 in Irbid, including 73 in Ramtha District, 104 in Mafraq, 75 in Balqa, 64 in Zarqa, 53 in Jerash, 41 in Ajloun, 37 in Karak, 36 in Madaba, 26 in Aqaba, 22 in Tafileh and 10 in Maan, including three in Petra District. 

The statement added that there are currently 17,820 active COVID-19 cases in Jordan.

A total of 86 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals on Sunday, taking the number of patients currently receiving care for COVID-19 in hospitals to 657, the statement said, adding that 85 recovered patients left hospitals.

The statement revealed that the number of isolation beds occupied by COVID-19 patients in hospitals on Saturday totalled 555, registering an occupancy rate of 13 per cent, while a total of 237 ICU beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, at a rate of 25 per cent.

A total of 114 ventilators were used for treating COVID-19 patients, at an occupancy rate of 12 per cent.

The statement added that 2,499 recoveries were registered in hospitals and home quarantine on Sunday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 276,485.

A total of 20,893 virus tests were also conducted on Sunday, bringing the cumulative number of coronavirus tests administered since the outbreak of the pandemic to 3,232,259, with the share of tests returning a positive result, known as positive rate, standing at 7.37 per cent, the statement added.

The Ministry of Health has renewed its call on the public to abide by defence orders, as well as to adhere to precautionary measures, mainly wearing face masks and avoiding holding gatherings that exceed 20 people, according to the statement.

The ministry also called on the public to follow its “I Protect Them” awareness campaign, which aims to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through increasing public commitment to preventive measures to protect individuals and their beloved ones.