14 COVID deaths, 1,674 infections recorded Wednesday

AMMAN — Fourteen COVID-19 deaths and 1,674 virus cases were recorded in the Kingdom on Wednesday, increasing the caseload to 293,067, the government announced.

The new fatalities took the Kingdom’s coronavirus death toll to 3,815, according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Health.

The cases comprised 534 infections in Amman, 594 in Irbid, including 64 in Ramtha District, 61 in Mafraq, 102 in Zarqa, 66 in Karak, 104 in Balqa, 62 in Ajloun, 35 in Madaba, 28 in Aqaba, 52 in Jerash, 20 in Tafileh and 16 in Maan, including two in Petra District.

The statement added that there are currently 20,409 active COVID-19 cases in Jordan.

A total of 85 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals on Wednesday, taking the number of patients currently receiving care for COVID-19 in hospitals to 727, the statement said, adding that 111 recovered patients left hospitals.

The statement revealed that the number of isolation beds occupied by COVID-19 patients in hospitals on Tuesday totalled 640, registering an occupancy rate of 14 per cent, while a total of 243 ICU beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, at a rate of 25 per cent.

A total of 96 ventilators were used for treating COVID-19 patients, at an occupancy rate of 10 per cent.

The statement added that 2,221 recoveries were registered in hospitals and home quarantine on Wednesday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 268,843.

A total of 25,933 virus tests were also conducted on   Wednesday, bringing the cumulative number of coronavirus tests administered since the outbreak of the pandemic to 3,152,125, with the share of tests returning a positive result, known as positive rate, standing at 6.46 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.