Ammon News -

Cabinet members on Saturday sounded the alarm over public health risks after major violations to safety protocols were seen yesterday following the lifting of the Friday total lockdowns that have been in place for months.

Markets and the downtown areas in cities across the Kingdom saw overcrowdings and failure by individuals and shops to abide by health safety measures, including the absence or inappropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), i.e. masks and gloves.

"Yesterday, we saw irresponsible behaviors and clear violations of the law and defense orders," Minister of Interior Samir Mubaideen told a joint press conference with other cabinet members at the Prime Ministry.

He warned that such "irresponsible" behavior risks further the spread of the virus and could derail all efforts exerted to contain the pandemic.

Mubaideen vowed zero-tolerance with any "party or group" trying to endanger public health and safety, adding that police patrols and other stakeholders will step up their efforts to ensure public compliance with the relevant defence orders.

Health Minister Natheer Obeidat said the world is still "at the heart" of the battle against the coronavirus, with many countries reintroducing "tough" measures to address high case numbers.

"Despite the improvement in the epidemiological curve, we are still in a community spread stage. Therefore, we are exposed to infection and further future spread if we do not adhere to public safety measures," Obeidat cautioned.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Maha Ali said the failure to observe health safety measures will impact the full reopening of the economy, noting that inspection teams carried out 1,881 visits on Friday to various sectors and establishments and registered many violations.

She indicated that control visits will continue to ensure that businesses and workers adhere to safety and precautionary protocols, particularly the use of PPE and social distancing.

State Minister for Media Affairs Ali Al-Ayed said that "failure to adhere to safety and prevention measures, as well as the recklessness and violations seen yesterday might force the government to walk back mitigating measures and sector reopening".

Al-Ayed, who is also government spokesman, said the prime minister chaired today a meeting with ministers and other stakeholders to look into an assessment of what happened yesterday, adding that the evaluation found out that many people failed to observe the precautionary measures.

"We are still in the midst of community spread, which requires the highest degrees of commitment to safety and prevention measures", he stressed.

Al-Ayed indicated that the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and the gradual decrease in morbidity and mortality do not mean the pandemic has ended, but rather requires more care and commitment to preventive measures to avert any set back.

He pointed out that the epidemiological situation in many countries of the world is witnessing negative and rapid developments, noting that some countries have taken strict measures, including the introduction of weeks-long curfews.