Kingdom records 2 new COVID-19 cases, 5 recoveries

AMMAN – The Kingdom on Monday registered two new cases of the coronavirus, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in Jordan to 449, Health Minister Saad Jaber announced.

Among the new cases is a truck driver who entered the Kingdom through the Omari border crossing between Jordan and Saudi Arabia and a child who contracted the virus from his mother, who is receiving treatment at Prince Hamzah Hospital, Jaber said during a press briefing from the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management.

The minister noted that five people have recovered and were discharged from hospitals on Monday, leaving 95 patients still receiving treatment.

Also during the briefing, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said that people will be able to use their vehicles based on a system of odd and even licence plate numbers as of Wednesday, providing that the vehicles carry no more than two passengers at a time.

Adaileh said that the public will be able to use their vehicles between 8am and 6pm within governorates according to conditions that preserve public safety, noting that the decision will be evaluated periodically.

As for daily workers whose income was cut off due to the curfew, the minister said that direct monetary assistance totalling JD8.790 million was offered to 68,464 families through the National Aid Fund.

He added that 9,500 institutions have so far joined the Social Security Corporation since launching the e-subscription service. 

Also speaking at the briefing, Industry, Trade and Supply Minister Tareq Hammouri announced the opening of financial auditors, tax and accounting consultancy firms, barbershops, beauty salons, dry cleaning shops, cosmetics and watch and shoe repair shops.

He added that the ministry has closed 11 shops for not adhering to price ceilings set by the ministry, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Higher Education Minister Muhyiddine Touq, for his part, said that the Higher Education Council, after consultations with the heads of universities, has decided to continue remote education until the end of the current semester. Final exams will be held electronically, except for those of medical and dentistry faculties.