The government has decided to extend suspending work hours for ministries, public institutions, schools and universities as of Wednesday morning, April 15 until Thursday evening, April 30, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said announced today.

During a press briefing at the National Center for Security and Crisis Management, Adaileh stated that the government’s vital sectors whose work nature requires otherwise and which are determined by the concerned minister, as well as private sector institutions and the banking sector authorized to work during the holiday, are excluded from the decision.

Adaileh also announced that supermarkets and food supply stores inside the shopping malls will be allowed to open as of tomorrow morning from 10 am to 6 pm. He explained that people can only reach these stores on foot.

"The government COVID-19 taskforces have been re-set up and reduced to three, namely the national economy protection team, the basic services team, which includes education and higher education, health, water, electricity, and others and a team specialized in the legal, administrative, field and media aspects," the Minister said. 

He revealed that among the infected people was a member of the National Center for Security and Crisis Management, but that he was infected during his leave, confirming that he was not at work.

He pointed out that the infected resides in an area that was isolated on April 6, and that he got infected before the isolation decision was taken, stressing that he was immediately given a leave.

Also read: Active COVID-19 cases in Jordan down to 188