15 virus cases, including 13 local infections, recorded on Tuesday

AMMAN — Fifteen COVID-19 cases, including 13 local infections, were recorded in the Kingdom on Tuesday, according to Health Minister Saad Jaber.

Tuesday’s cases included two Jordanians who returned to the Kingdom from abroad — one from Saudi Arabia and the other is a truck driver, Jaber said during a press conference held at the Prime Ministry. 

The minister said that five infections were registered in Ramtha, including four among Customs Department employees, and a person who contracted the infection from a COVID-19 positive patient.

Also among the local cases are: One infection in Jerash, two in Irbid, one in Ajloun, four in Amman — who contracted the infection from Irbid — and one case in Mafraq, whose source of infection is under investigation, he added. 

Two recoveries were also reported at Prince Hamzah hospital, the minister said.

Meanwhile, Jordan has contacted Russian authorities over the price and details of the potential Russian vaccine for COVID-19, according to Jaber. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said that Russia had become the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine, according to news reports.

Jaber also pointed out that the Jordanian embassy in Moscow is following up on the mechanism to acquire the vaccine, the minister noted.

Also speaking at the press meeting, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tareq Hammouri said that curfew hours will be extended as of Saturday, during which public movement will be permitted until 12 midnight and businesses will be allowed to operate until 11pm.

Hammouri, chairman of the work, production and supply chains committee, said that the amendment to curfew hours came after a recommendation from the health minister following a revision of procedures linked to the COVID-19 matrix.

Speaking at the press briefing, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said that Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Omar Razzaz had issued a circular earlier in the day obliging all public sector employees to download the "Aman" (Safety) application, which alerts users if they come into contact with someone who has COVID-19 and informs users of the degree of risk of infection.

The circular also stipulates that "all visitors of public departments must download the application before they are allowed entry", Adaileh said.

He called on private sector institutions to encourage their employees to download the application.

The increase in the number of local infections “might take Jordan backwards and relive the bad memories of partial and comprehensive curfews" at a time when the Kingdom is aspiring to reach zero cases, he added. 

Head of the coronavirus crisis cell Brig. Gen. Mazen Faraiah said that cell administration is moving ahead with enhancing safety procedures at border crossings.

Faraiah also said that some residential areas with reported infections are being quarantined, expressing hope that the need does not arise to quarantine wide areas or entire governorates. 

Also speaking at the briefing, Brig. Gen. Rami Dabbas, head of the command and control at the Public Security Directorate (PSD), said that the directorate will re-deploy its personnel at public and commercial institutions ahead of the enforcement of  Defence Order No. 11.

Dabbas also noted that PSD personnel will monitor the public's and institutions' commitment to curfew hours.