Ammon News -

Minister of Health, Nazir Obeidat, said that the ministry devised an integrated plan to deal with the Covid-19 vaccination process based on equality and accuracy, and takes into account the priorities, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"The information received after using the anti-coronavirus vaccine confirms that the vaccines are safe, and previous studies have confirmed that they are safe and effective," Obeidat said in press conference held Monday at the Prime Ministry.

The Health Minister announced that, as of Sunday, the Amman Field Hospital, which was inaugurated by His Majesty King Abdullah, will start receiving coronavirus patients in order to make way for hospitals to be free of (Covid-19) patients, indicating that similar field hospitals will be opened in Ma'an, Irbid and Aqaba.

Obeidat explained that beds occupancy rate is 20 percent which amounts to 870 infections, while the intensive care occupancy rate is 34 percent, with 313 patients, and the occupancy rate of ventilators is 19 percent, with 161 devices.

He noted that the 50th week saw 232 deaths compared to 326 in the previous week, which means that the death rate is also declining.

The minister added that Ajloun is the highest-hit governorate with Covid-19 infections in comparison to the number of residents, followed by Aqaba, Tafilah, Jerash, Karak, Amman, Balqa', Madaba, Ma'an, Irbid and Zarqa respectively, while the most affected age group by the virus is still between 25-30 years.

Regarding the antibody test, the health minister indicated that the test was approved by the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), but doen't constitute a diagnostic test.

The top health official said that travelers who came from the United Kingdom will be tracked via epidemiological investigation teams and will take the necessary test.

On the new strain of the coronavirus, Obaidat explained that this type of virus is characterized by mutations and genetic mutations, adding that the new strain has emerged in September, as these changes began to appear in the genetic material and some kind of mutation, and since then more than one change occurred with the same virus.

Obeidat confirmed that there are laboratories at the Ministry of Health and the University of Science and Technology to detect the virus.

He added that, until October 4, no such mutations in the virus had been found, but the genetic arrangement test must be performed during the coming period.

Obeidat indicated that the ministry is still waiting for more information about this change in the virus, and more information will be available in the coming days, and in light of this, the epidemiological situation will be reassessed and the appropriate decision will be taken regarding the upcoming measures.