Released quarantiners laud Jordanian soldiers’ kindness, government efforts

AMMAN — With roses, salutes and heartfelt messages Jordanian soldiers bid farewell to individuals who were quarantined in the Kingdom’s high-end hotels for 14 days, sparking waves of kindness, solidarity and brought to light thoughtful acts that countered the coronavirus outbreak blues.

As part of the Kingdom's efforts to mitigate the coronavirus, nearly 5,000 arrivals that came into Jordan on March 16 were quarantined at 34 hotels in Amman and the Dead Sea.

"I felt home when I was treated with kindness by the soldiers who explained to me that the main purpose of my 14-day stay was to protect me and my loved ones," Sultan Mustafa, a Jordanian student pursuing a Master's degree in the UK, told The Jordan Times on Wednesday, after being amongst the 1,934 persons who were discharged from quarantine on March 30.

"Being stuck at the airport during a global pandemic was maddening and when I was told that a Jordanian Armed Forces bus would take us to a resort for a two week hotel quarantine I completely lost my mind and was against the whole quarantine idea, especially while feeling intimidated and confused," Mustafa said.

While most people around the world discuss the success and failure of governmental policies to combat the outbreak of the pandemic, "Jordan hijacked the world’s attention with its firm and rigorous measures", Mustafa expressed, adding that some international news outlets consider Jordan as 'a heaven of security' for its handling of the outbreak.

"It was a great experience to witness how social distancing is crucial in times of a pandemic," Mustafa said, adding that the "luxurious" quarantine had helped prevent the spread of the virus that would have overwhelmed the health systems.

For Mustafa, not being able to use resort facilities was not a problem, for he enjoyed his meals on his sea view balcony, worked on his university essays and video chatted with his family.

"I am proud to hold a Jordanian passport," Tareq Al Tayeb, a citizen who was quarantined at a Dead Sea hotel told the Jordan Times on Thursday.

The hotel was sanitised and well prepared to accommodate all of the people taken there, Tayeb said, adding that key medical check- ups were conducted, to detect any potential symptoms of the contagious virus.

"The army units spent a fortnight patrolling the streets and highways with the aim of protect the Kingdom from the contagious attacker," Tayeb said, noting that Jordanian soldiers had always inspired awe and generated respect, but now they had also shown their altruistic side and contributed to the Kingdom's national unity.

Ashraf Abdullah, a Jordanian citizen who was quarantined in one of the Kingdom's hotels after his trip to India, said in a statement to The Jordan Times on Friday that he felt anxious at the beginning, while being in an unknown and highly stressful situation.

"The quality of services delivered at the hotel was great and everything went well," he beamed.

The government's evacuation plan was first implemented on March 30, providing free transportation to the released individuals, who finished the two-week quarantine. On March 31 the second phase of evacuating 1,148 non-Jordanian travellers concluded, coupled with regular contact with the travellers’ embassies in Amman through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.

Mustafa said "after this phenomenal experience, I have realised that soldiers do not have not to wage wars to protect civilians today, they are defending us from this pandemic with unconditional kindness".