Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The government is relaxing curfew restrictions in the governorates of Madaba, Ajloun and Jerash, starting Wednesday, as part of national effort to return to normalcy and reopen the economy following more than a month-long nationwide lockdown.

In a daily briefing on COVID-19's developments at the National Center for Security and Crisis Management (NCSCM), Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said Tuesday that residents in the three governorates will be at liberty to use their vehicles, irrespective of their plates' number, from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm, effective Wednesday.

On reopening the economy, Adaileh, the government's spokesperson, said that lawyers and law firms across the Kingdom will open for business, as of tomorrow. They will be allowed to conduct business from Sunday through Thursday and in within certain times.

On the pressing question that had preoccupied the public on when and if the government is to impose a curfew over the weekend, the Minister declared a 24-hour blanket curfew on Friday.

He pointed out to His Majesty King Abdullah II's article that was published in the "Washington Post" Monday, in which the King said "Come together and get to work. To face this single threat, we must have singular focus the survival and well-being of human lives everywhere."

Prime Minister Omar Razzaz held a meeting with President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Suma Chakrabarti for a discussion on bolstering bilateral cooperation amid the COVID-19 crisis, the respiratory disease caused by the highly contagious coronavirus, Adaileh noted, adding that Razzaz briefed the Bank's officials on the Kingdom's effort to curb the spread of the pandemic.

On allowing people to use their cars, Adaileh said that the government will take legal action against violators and whoever impedes or blocks traffic movement, warning that violators may be subject to having their cars impounded for no less than a month, plus fines and impound fees.

Also, he emphasized that children under the age of 16 and those older than 60 years old will not be allowed in cars, warning that legal action will be taken against violators.

"We are at a real crossroad, we either move ahead toward stability and extirpating the endemic, or we veer from the correct trajectory - God forbid."