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AMMAN — The government is considering terminating the enforcement of Defence Law No. 13 of 1992, Minister of Government Communications Faisal Shboul said on Friday, following the World Health Organsation's recent declaration that the COVID-19 pandemic no longer poses a global health emergency.
While the Defence Law is permanent legislation, it is specifically enacted to address emergency situations through a certain mechanism, and its enforcement requires approval from the Cabinet and a Royal Decree. The Law shall be terminated through the same process, Shboul, who is also the government's spokesperson, said during a telephone interview with Al Mamlaka TV.
The Defence Law has been in effect for three years, during which numerous defence orders and executive statements have been issued, he said. "Jordan, like other countries across the world, implemented closures and general lockdown measures, gradually reopening various sectors afterward,” Shboul added.
Jordan has now returned to a state of normalcy, and has been without any restrictions since last year, Shboul said.
He also emphasised that defence orders are currently not implemented under the Defence Law. The impact of these orders, such as Defence Order No. 6 pertaining to labour rights, will be reviewed.
The primary objective of the Defence Law is to suspend certain provisions of other legislation during emergencies with the aim of preserving public life and ensuring citizens' safety, he emphasised.
The World Health Organisation's declaration that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global health emergency does not indicate the end of the pandemic, but its transition into an endemic disease, akin to influenza, as per the classification of the Ministry of Health and Jordanian National Centre for Epidemics and Communicable Diseases Control, Shboul said.
