Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Minister of Health, Dr. Sa'ad Jaber, announced 17 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the Kingdom, including 10 local infections, bringing the total caseload since the start of the pandemic to 1320.
Speaking during a press conference held at the Prime Ministry on Thursday, Jaber said 6 cases involve arrivals from Saudi Arabia and Palestine under quarantine at the designated hotels, and 1 infection to a driver at the border.
As for the local cases, 4 were recorded in Irbid Governorate, 4 in the Ramtha district, and 2 in the capital, Amman-1 involves a patient in a private hospital, and epidemiological investigation is underway to identify source of the infection, according to Jaber.
Meanwhile, 7 patients have recovered during the past 24 hours and left the quarantine area in the Dead Sea, while 90 cases are still under treatment in the Kingdom, Jaber announced.
The epidemiological investigation teams have administered about 6,700 additional Covid-19 tests today, bringing the total number conducted since the start of the virus outbreak in the Kingdom to 672,344 tests, he pointed out.
Since last Friday, he said the Kingdom has seen 63 local Covid-19 cases, adding the increase in local infections is "worrisome," especially due to the developments in the epidemiological situation in many world countries and the region.
To curb the fight efforts, he said the citizens' commitment, physical distancing, and wearing masks help control the pandemic, adding 49 Covid-19 patients were found to have contacted 3,200 people within 3 days.
Citing a repatriation operation from a virus hotspot, Jaber said Jordan has evacuated Jordanian Covid-19 patients from a hard-hit country, as no beds and medical care were not provided, triggered by the "great" pressure on its health system.
Commenting on government-related measures, he said activation of Defense Order No. (11) preceded the increase in local cases, and the main reason behind this decision is that the pandemic has not ended.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has refused to classify Jordan as "Green Country-low risk category" because its borders are labeled "red-high risk," according to Jaber.
Jaber also called on citizens to abide by Defense Order (11), adhere to public safety and preventive measures, follow the utmost precaution, and wear face masks.