King chairs follow-up meeting on health sector’s COVID-19 measures

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday stressed the need to continuously update the response plan to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in line with projected developments, and called for assessing any additional measures needed.

Chairing a meeting to follow up on measures taken by the health sector to counter COVID-19, the King emphasised the importance of coordination to prevent the spread of the disease, according to a Royal Court statement. 

During the meeting, attended by HRH Prince Feisal, adviser to His Majesty and chairperson of the National Policies Council, the King urged utilising all resources to ensure the wellbeing of Jordanians, reiterating that the health and wellbeing of all Jordanians is his utmost priority.

The King called for serious and transparent efforts, noting the need to hold daily follow-up meetings at the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management to review the implemented measures, the statement said.

His Majesty commended efforts exerted by all institutions to limit the spread of COVID-19.

The King underscored that all measures taken are in the interest of Jordanians, calling for providing the necessary detection kits, medication and equipment required to test citizens for COVID-19.

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz highlighted the precautionary health measures taken by the government to prevent infection and safeguard the health of Jordanians arriving in the Kingdom, including imposing mandatory quarantine on all arrivals.

Prime Minister Razzaz added that a number of hotels at the Dead Sea, and in Amman and Aqaba have been designated to receive quarantined arrivals.

Razzaz said the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army is handling the transport of arrivals to the equipped hotels, noting that visits to those under quarantine are prohibited.

The prime minister said airlines transporting Jordanians coming from around the world were asked to inform Jordanian passengers before boarding that they will be subject to the Ministry of Health’s quarantine measures upon arrival.

Health Minister Saad Jaber outlined the government’s response plan to COVID-19, noting that the health sector is working in partnership with all the relevant parties to ensure readiness to handle any new developments related to the virus.

The minister also highlighted measures to enhance quarantine conditions and stock up on COVID-19 test kits.

The meeting, attended by senior officials and officers, covered progress in measures to limit the spread of the virus, including ongoing coordination among all institutions according to the response plan.