Jordan eases COVID-19 lockdown restrictions amid uproar

Jordan eases COVID-19 lockdown restrictions amid uproar
Jordan has eased coronavirus restrictions after the extent in which the country was restricted caused outrage.
2 min read
25 March, 2020
Amman is in lockdown [NurPhoto]

Jordan on Wednesday announced the easing of restrictions on people's movements.

Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said that mini markets, groceries, basic foodstuff stores, pharmacies and bakeries will reopen Wednesday morning as a new measure amid the curfew imposed in the Kingdom to limit the spread of the new coronavirus.

The new mechanism will allow citizens aged between 16-60 years old to fulfil their necessary needs at specific times.

They can walk to shops in their neighbourhoods between 10 am until 18 pm. Only authorised vehicles are allowed to move.

Razzaz stressed that if authorities see scenes of overcrowding inside shops, the shops where any violations will occur will be closed.

Jordan witnessed a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, Health Minister Saad Jaber announced in a press briefing that 26 new cases have been recorded, bringing the total to 153 cases. There have been no deaths.

Read also: Urgent appeal to Jordan to save stranded Syrian women needing emergency c-sections

Jordan has declared the Defence Law (State of emergency) on Tuesday over the virus outbreak, which allows the suspension of laws and grants greater powers to the government to restrict public gatherings and civil and political liberties.

The Kingdom imposed a curfew on Saturday after they suspended all flights to and from Jordan, closed all sea and land crossing.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

But the virus is highly contagious and can be spread by those with no visible symptoms.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness including pneumonia, but the vast majority of people recover from the virus.

The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 425,000 people and killed over 18,000.

More than 109,000 people have recovered so far, mostly in China.



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