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Ammon News - The Lower House Health and Environment Committee was briefed, during a meeting held Wednesday, on the developments of Jordan's epidemiological situation.

The committee's rapporteur, MP Tayseer Krishan, said the committee listened to Minister of Health, Nazir Obeidat, on the government's policy to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Calling for for stronger partnership with the health and interior ministries,the committee's members highlighted importance for disease-related media awareness, prevention measures, and steps to orchestrate media statements to avoid "confusing" citizens, especially with regard to lockdowns.

Obeidat said, for his part, Jordan is witnessing a pandemic second wave, as the number of daily infections has reached more than 7 thousand daily, indicating that the number of cases could increase in the coming days, adding the hospitalizations are expected to hit a high rate during the second wave.

On future estimates, the minister said there is " a possibility the number of infections could drop mid-April," adding that the government measures aim to flatten the pandemic curve, and to enable the health sector to deal with increased numbers of cases.

Obeidat said are a number of private hospitals are not cooperating with the ministry in dealing with the virus, adding that the ministry will apply defense orders if those hospitals continue their current policy.

The Ministry of Health has increased the number of artificial respirators, as well as the number of medical teams in government hospitals to enhance their ability to deal with the pandemic, Obeidat pointed out.

On the restrictive measures taken by the government and the other future steps, Obeidat said the government has ruled out a blanket lockdown for long periods, stressing that the government balances between the citizen health and the Kingdom's economic situation when decisions are taken.

Continuing:" Without restrictive measures, the situation will be dangerous, and could spiral out of control before the decision is made to impose curfew on Fridays," adding that "there is non-compliance from citizens to public safety measures."

Regarding the lockdown on the areas with high infection rate, Obeidat said this measure has proven to be "ineffective," as their dwellers can move to other regions countrywide.