4 new coronavirus cases bring total to 401 as 15 patients recover

AMMAN — The Kingdom on Wednesday registered four new cases of the coronavirus, increasing its tally to 401 confirmed cases, according to Health Minister Saad Jaber.

Three of the new patients contracted the disease from a family member with the virus in Irbid, while the fourth case is a four-year-old boy who became infected with the virus from his mother, Jaber said during the daily briefing, which was broadcast live from the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management on Wednesday evening.

The minister announced that 15 patients were discharged from hospitals on Wednesday, including nine from Prince Hamzah Hospital in Amman and six from King Abdullah University Hospital in Irbid.

A total of 94 individuals are still receiving medical care at Prince Hamzah Hospital and 24 at King Abdullah University Hospital, the minister said.

For the first time since the beginning of the crisis, epidemiological investigation teams conducted 2,500 tests in a single day, he said.

Also speaking during the briefing, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said that curfew regulations will be amended and mitigated for citizens in areas that have not yet registered any cases of coronavirus. Aqaba will be the first to witness the lightened regulations starting on Sunday morning.

Prior to easing procedures, epidemiological investigation teams will conduct large-scale random testing, the minister said.

He added that the government’s continuation of the eased regulations will depend on the public’s commitment to precautionary measures.

The minister also said that Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Omar Razzaz has decided to form and chair an advisory council for economic policies, which will include experts from the public and private sectors as members, to follow up on the expected economic repercussions of the pandemic.