Airport reopening postponed as global virus cases soar

AMMAN — With global coronavirus cases again soaring, Jordan on Tuesday decided to postpone the reopening of its airports to international commercial flights.

Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said that the decision to reopen Jordan's airports to "regular" commercial flights to a number of “low risk” countries was postponed until further notice, pending an improvement of the coronavirus pandemic situation worldwide. 

Jordan was scheduled to reopen its airport to international flights from a number of countries classified as “low risk” on August 5. 

"The decision to postpone the reopening of airports was taken after recommendations from health authorities," Adaileh told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.

"Health authorities strongly recommend that reopening of airports to international flights be put off these days with the coronavirus cases soaring worldwide even in countries previously classified as 'low risk'."  

The minister also said that airports will remain open to Jordanians returning home and for departure of foreigners.

Adaileh said that Jordanians returning from “low risk” countries will have to stay in quarantine for one week after undergoing a PCR test. 

The countries classified as “low risk” by the Health Ministry included Germany, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, Georgia, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Switzerland and Thailand.

Jordanians and foreigners arriving in the Kingdom will be placed in a 14-day institutional quarantine and another two-week home quarantine.