King calls for national database for strategic reserves of various sectors, urges firmness against irresponsible actions that threaten public health

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, chairing a National Policies Council (NPC) meeting on Wednesday, called for creating a national database that details the strategic reserves of various sectors, especially the industrial, medical  and agricultural ones.

During the meeting, attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, King Abdullah stressed the need to deal firmly with irresponsible actions that threaten public health and to put strict measures in place to prevent the abuse of curfew exceptions, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty underscored the importance of ensuring truck drivers transporting goods into Jordan across the border are clear of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

At the meeting, also attended by HRH Prince Feisal, adviser to His Majesty and NPC chairperson, the King directed the government to finalise a plan for the return of Jordanian students studying abroad, based on a fair mechanism that takes priorities into account.

His Majesty said that any decision to partially relax curfew measures in any area or city must be preceded by large-scale random testing to confirm there are no COVID-19 cases there, while also taking the necessary preventive measures recommended by the Ministry of Health.

The King underscored the importance of consulting with the Ministry of Health ahead of planning the gradual resumption of operations in certain sectors in governorates that have not recorded any COVID-19 cases.

His Majesty called for strict guidelines to regulate the resumption of operations in targetted sectors, noting the importance of communicating these guidelines clearly to the public in advance to ensure compliance.

The King also reaffirmed the need for concrete measures to support daily labourers in a timely manner.

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz outlined the government’s economic response plan to address the COVID-19 crisis and its implications, with measures to gradually resume operations in various economic sectors after the government, taking into account health and safety regulations, recently allowed food processing, pharmaceutical and export industries to resume operations.

Razzaz underscored measures implemented by the government, in coordination with the Central Bank of Jordan and the Social Security Corporation, to assist the private sector and support employees of institutions harmed by the COVID-19 crisis, which are in parallel to a programme to safeguard the wellbeing of daily labourers.

Noting that some governorates have not recorded any COVID-19 cases, the prime minister said the government will amend curfew measures there, restricting movement in and out of them to allow the resumption of production and economic activities, while adhering to health and safety standards.