King directs gov’t to take necessary measures to ease burden on citizens during Ramadan

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, chairing a National Policies Council (NPC) meeting on Wednesday, directed the government to take the necessary measures during the holy month of Ramadan to ease the burden on citizens by ensuring basic commodities and needs are available.

During the meeting, attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, King Abdullah stressed the importance of stepping up coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing as a number of sectors gradually resume operation, to safeguard citizens’ health and safety, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty called for boosting the morale of Jordanians under the current exceptional circumstances by introducing programmes across the governorates that adhere to the necessary health precautions.

At the meeting, also attended by HRH Prince Feisal, adviser to His Majesty and NPC chairperson, the King underscored the need to clarify each of the government’s latest measures, which are in the best interests of citizens and aim to facilitate various procedures for them.

For his part, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz highlighted government measures for Ramadan — the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, when Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset — in coordination with the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and security agencies.

Razzaz said the pandemic situation in Jordan is currently under control, with infections dropping, but the challenge remains to increase testing to reach 5,000 to 10,000 tests per day.

The prime minister also outlined several economic measures taken by the government to support sectors harmed by the implications of the COVID-19 crisis, the statement concluded.