80 virus cases, including 79 local infections, recorded on Thursday

AMMAN — Eighty COVID-19 cases, including 79 local infections, were recorded in the Kingdom on Thursday, increasing the caseload to 2,739, according to Health Minister Saad Jaber.

The local cases comprised 38 infections in Amman, 19 cases in Balqa, three in Mafraq, seven in Irbid, three in Zarqa and nine in Karak, Jaber said during a press conference held at the Prime Ministry.

He pointed out that the local cases since August 7 have totalled 1,202.

The case from abroad was a truck driver who tested positive at the Omari border crossing, the minister noted.

A total of 62 recoveries were registered during the past 24 hours, leaving 680 cases still receiving treatment, Jaber said.

A total of 15,784 random virus tests were also conducted on Thursday, bringing the cumulative number of coronavirus tests administered since the beginning of the crisis to 941,018, the minister said.

The health minister praised the efforts of epidemiological investigation teams and laboratories, especially during the current heat wave affecting the Kingdom.

Jaber also stressed that Jordan will not adopt the “herd immunity” policy, urging the public to refrain from attending gatherings, occasions and celebrations that violate the government regulations and to commit to physical distancing and wearing masks.

Also speaking at the press briefing, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said that the government has been keen on ensuring that defence orders protect the public health and enhance solidarity, noting that the Defence Law and its orders have “never been used for political purposes or to restrain public freedoms or to invalidate judicial orders”.

Adaileh also added that “the Royal directives to the government were clear to apply the law and its orders with minimal impact on the daily lives of Jordanians in a way that does not affect their political and civil rights and to focus on protecting public health”.

The minister said that once the Defence Law came into effect on March 17, the government has issued 15 defence orders, including six that mainly focused on social protection, four that aimed at health protection and preserving public health, two to ensure the delivery of basic services to citizens and three focused on social and economic protection of businesses.  

Meanwhile, Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Mousa Maaytah said that the government postponed the dates of elections of some professional associations due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of preserving public health.

Maaytah said that holding the parliamentary elections is “a constitutional requirement” that must be implemented on time on November 10.

The minister said that the government will allow holding professional association elections after the parliamentary elections according to health protocols, noting that what makes such elections “difficult” is the fact that professional association elections require holding several meetings.