Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Minister of State for Media Affairs, Amjad Adaileh, said Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Wednesday issued the Defense Order No. (17) of 2020, with the aim of tightening penalties for anyone who violates commitments or measures imposed to prevent the coronavirus pandemic.

Defense order (17) according to which the Defense Orders Nos. (8) and (16) were amended, under which penalties for anyone who violates commitments or measures imposed by competent authorities, will be in a form of a financial fine of not less than JD500, and not more than JD1000 if the violation is for the first time, and no more than one year imprisonment or by a fine of not less than JD100 and not more than JD300 , or with both of these penalties in case of repetition, Adaileh said in a joint press briefing in the Prime Ministry.

Adaileh added that the new defense order also included imposing a prison sentence of up to one year, or a fine of JD300, or with both penalties against administrators of hospitals, health centers, or medical laboratories, in the event of withholding confirmed Covid-19 infections form competent authorities, and they will be subject to a 14-day closure if the violation repeats.

He underlined that imposing any penalty under this order shall not preclude the imposition of any more severe punishment, as stipulated in any other legislation.

Adaileh noted that governmental and specialized teams held a series of meetings to discuss the latest developments related to the coronavirus pandemic, the necessary measures to deal with them, and review previous decisions.

The State Minister announced the amendment of home quarantine instructions for those coming from countries and destinations classified as (red) under which the quarantine period will be 14 days instead of 7, in addition to conducting tests on the seventh and fourteenth days, in light of the developments in the epidemiological situation in the Kingdom.

Adaileh said: "Official and scientific health references confirm that we are in a state of societal spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, prevention is no longer an option, but rather a decision, a duty and a moral and humanitarian responsibility."