Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - State Minister for Media Affairs, Amjad Adileh, on Thursday said the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic has not ended yet, but rather requires some additional measures, namely the nationwide 24-hour lockdown on Friday.

Adaileh said the past two weeks were critical to the Kingdom’s effort to contain and ultimately eradicate the pandemic which has claimed the lives of five people and infected 278 people so far, including 36 who recovered and were discharged from hospitals.

Speaking to reporters, the minister explained that the 24-hour lockdown, which the nation will observe tomorrow, aims to allow epidemiological investigation teams to work efficiently and effectively and reach and test the contacts of confirmed cases.

He emphasized that such effort requires citizens to stay in their homes, adding that the army and other security agencies will ensure commitment to the lockdown and prevent any non-urgent movement in the streets across the Kingdom.

Adaileh, who is also government spokesman, said vital sectors such as electricity, water and communications will continue their work using minimal staff during the 24-hour period.

Starting Saturday morning, current curfew regulations will return and permitted commercial stores and establishments will be allowed to open again from 10:00am to 06:00pm, the minister said.

With regard to movement permits, Adaileh announced that the current paper permits will be considered invalid after 06:00 this evening as they have been already replaced with electronic ones.

In this context, the minister called on those with movement permits to send a text message of their national numbers to 94444 to receive their e-permits.

Concluding, Adaileh warned of disseminating rumors, false news, inaccurate information or voices messages, stressing that security agencies will not tolerate such behavior and will track down rumormongers and those who fabricate information.