The Minister of Health Saad Jaber has called for a ban on smoking indoors in Jordan.

The ban would include tobacco and electronic cigarettes, and water pipes in closed public areas, Jaber said on Wednesday.

Information indicated smokers and passive smokers are at a higher risk of becoming severely ill if they contract COVID-19, added the minister.

The response over social media demonstrated support for the move, emphasising the need to implement a ban in governmental departments and uphold the existing restriction on smoking in hospitals.

President of the International Cancer Federation, Princess Dina Mired, tweeted: “A first step in applying the Public Health Law to combat smoking in our beloved Jordan. We hope that the smoke-prevention law will be applied in all public places”.

Jordanian Jamal Naji Nour commented on Facebook: “For me, it is a huge step, because all the Jordanian people are smokers. Wherever you turn, right or left, in all places and in all types of transportation you will see smokers of all ages.”

“A good decision. Sometimes I see guys smoking in the kids’ areas like idiots and they don't care about others. I personally smoke, but I do not smoke in public areas," Ahmed Al-Ahmad commented on Facebook.

خطوة أولى لتطبيق قانون الصحة العامة لمكافحة آفة #التدخين في أردننا الحبيب ، نرجو ان يطبق قانون منع الدخان في جميع الأماكن العامة بحذافيره @PrimeMinistry @DrSaadJaber @SmokeFreeJo @RHASJordan @GAMtweets https://t.co/1uuaBiX3bl

— Princess Dina Mired (@dinamired) July 1, 2020