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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Jordanian Government may activate the Defense Law soon to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), State Minister for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said on Monday.

The minister, who is also the government spokesperson, said any activation of the defense law, which can be invoked only in emergencies, will ensure that personal freedoms and rights are not harmed.

"The laws currently in effect are sufficient, but if we are forced to invoke more laws that control matters in the event that some private sector institutions or citizens do not comply with the instructions and procedures issued by the government, we may have to introduce the defense law, which is a second option that we have not taken yet. This option is intended to protect the citizens from the spread of this disease," Adaileh added.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Minister of Health Sa'ed Jabir, Adaileh announced that restaurants are barred, as of Tuesday, from serving customers in-house while delivery orders are permitted.

Additionally, the minister said robust controls are now in place on truck drivers coming to and leaving the Kingdom while air freight is being boosted in coordination between the Ministry of Transport and the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army.

Regarding the numbers expected to arrive today in the Kingdom, the minister indicated that, according to figures from the Ministry of Transport, the number expected to arrive today ranges between 3,000 to 5,000, down from earlier estimates of up to 10,000 arrivals.

Adaileh said strict legal action will be taken against those who disseminate rumors and false information, noting that four persons had been apprehended for publishing rumors related to the COVID-19.

Speaking about the compulsory quarantine of inbound arrivals, which the government announced earlier in the day, Adaileh said the move should not be seen as a luxury but a necessity aimed at protecting the health of the public, stressing that robust health measures are in place at the designated hotel facilities to ensure a total control over any infection.

He noted that the government will pay the full cost of the stay at the designated hotels during the quarantine period. The minister assured that those quarantined will be provided with the necessary supplies, urging them to cooperate and exercise patience.

In turn, Jabir said all of the 19 cases the Kingdom has reported so far are imported, adding that the compulsory quarantine is already underway at hotels in the Deal Sea region and in the capital Amman.

He added that the responsibility for the quarantine at the Dead Sea region is shouldered by the army-run Royal Medical Services while the Ministry of Health is handling the quarantine in Amman.

Jabir stressed that the competent teams will search for any suspected cases and contacts and ensure they are isolated and quarantined.