18 COVID deaths, 1,050 infections recorded Saturday

AMMAN — Eighteen COVID-19 deaths and 1,050 virus cases were recorded in the Kingdom on Saturday, increasing the caseload to 286,356, the government announced.

The new fatalities took the Kingdom’s coronavirus death toll to 3,729, according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Health.

The cases comprised 372 infections in Amman, 344 in Irbid, including 12 in Ramtha District, 82 in Balqa, 63 in Mafraq, 63in Aqaba, 48 in Ajloun, 27 in Madaba, 21 in Zarqa, 20 in Karak, five in Jerash, three in Tafileh and two infections in Maan.

The statement added that there are currently 23,976 active COVID-19 cases in Jordan.

A total of 85 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals on Saturday, taking the number of patients currently receiving care for COVID-19 in hospitals to 932, the statement said, adding that 49 recovered patients left hospitals.

The statement revealed that the number of isolation beds occupied by COVID-19 patients in hospitals on Friday totalled 743, registering an occupancy rate of 17 per cent, while a total of 292 ICU beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, at a rate of 32 per cent.

A total of 135 ventilators were used for treating COVID-19 patients, at an occupancy rate of 16 per cent.

The statement added that 2,339 recoveries were registered in hospitals and home quarantine on Saturday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 258,651.

A total of 11,123 virus tests were also conducted on Saturday, bringing the cumulative number of coronavirus tests administered since the outbreak of the pandemic to 3,068,292, with the share of tests returning a positive result, known as positive rate, standing at 9.44 per cent, the statement added.

The Ministry of Health has renewed its call on the public to abide by defence orders, as well as to adhere to precautionary measures, mainly wearing face masks and avoiding holding gatherings that exceed 20 people, according to the statement.

The ministry also called on the public to follow its “I Protect Them” awareness campaign, which aims to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through increasing public commitment to preventive measures to protect individuals and their beloved ones.