Random testing for COVID-19 continues at full capacity — official

AMMAN — On Saturday, the second day of the 48-hour comprehensive curfew, more than 40 epidemiological inspection teams continued conducting random coronavirus testing, said Assistant Secretary General for Healthcare Affairs at the Ministry of Health Adnan Ishaq.

The teams are working at full capacity in all governorates of the Kingdom, including the capital, Amman, to conduct the tests using rapid testing devices and PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests at laboratories authorised by the Health Ministry.

The teams are expected to conduct more than 1,000 tests on Saturday, the secretary general said.

In addition to random testing on hospital visitors and people in their homes, Ishaq told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the testing process also covers those who have been in contact with people infected with the coronavirus in the last 14 days, according to data the teams obtained from patients.

Ishaq highlighted “the accuracy of the results shown by rapid testing devices in 15 minutes or less”, noting that the devices provided to the teams are of “high quality” and were obtained from Germany and China and have been tried and approved in those countries.

Rapid testing devices are only used to take random samples, while teams use laboratory (PCR) tests for contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases, he said.

Ishaq described the public’s cooperation with the inspection teams as “excellent”.