Call for vaccination gets louder as COVID cases rise

AMMAN — The soaring positive test rate in the Kingdom has drawn mixed reactions from the public.

The share of tests that returned positive on Tuesday stood at 22.45 per cent, according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Health.

On Tuesday, Mahmoud Bilal, a Jordanian physician, highlighted the importance of getting vaccinated amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

“I encourage everyone who did not get the booster shot to get it as soon as possible,” said Bilal, noting that most COVID-19 hospitalisation cases are among individuals who did not get vaccinated.

“The Omicron variant is spreading fast and is far more transmissible than prior versions, therefore it is important to take strict measures and precautions to prevent any further spread during this chapter of the pandemic,” Noor Manaseer, a Jordanian healthcare provider, said during an interview with The Jordan Times.

Manaseer added that individuals who have received two COVID-19 shots are less likely to experience severe symptoms, which makes vaccination the “best” protection during this time.

Nada Omar, a Jordanian in her early 40s, told The Jordan Times on Tuesday that she spends most of her time at home, because most people she knows have tested positive or are a close contact of someone who has tested positive.

“Since the beginning of the year, I did not go to any gatherings, because many people may have the virus but have no symptoms. I am just extra cautious,” she noted.

Meanwhile, Noor Tarawneh, a Jordanian in her early 20s, told The Jordan Times that she believes that the colder temperatures may have caused the surge in COVID-19 cases in Jordan.

“I took the booster dose and I am following all the necessary measures. Life is normal for me,” she said.