Total lockdown is the “last thing the government and Crisis Management Cell want”, said the Minister of Health of the caretaker government, Saad Jaber, on Tuesday.

It is the last resort if the positive cases keep increasing to the point the local health system cannot handle.

A series of meetings have been held involving all concerned authorities to discuss all possible scenarios and ways to deal with the coronavirus crisis in Jordan, he added.

Extending the curfew hours and imposing a two-day lockdown on Friday and Saturday have been discussed as possible options to prevent further spreading of the virus, said Jaber.

The government does not want to affect the economy and wants to find a balance between protecting citizens’ health and the local economy.

Jaber reiterated the need to wear facemasks as it protects citizens and prevents further spreading of coronavirus.

Currently, there are 400 COVID-19 investigation teams across the Kingdom and, by next week, there will be 144 health centres with health investigation teams all over the country, he said.

Over the past six months, the government has been working on strengthening the Jordanian health system.

Jaber said there are three Ministry of Health hospitals equipped to receive COVID-19 patients:

• Al-Bashir Emergency Hospital — 155 beds and 58 ventilators.
• Al-Bashir Oncology Department
• Prince Hamzah Hospital

The Ministry is currently completing a new intensive care hospital with 70 beds.

In approximately one month, Al-Bashir’s new cardiology hospital will be complete with 80 beds and will also receive COVID-19 patients.

All governorates have the necessary healthcare staff and equipment needed to treat COVID-19 patients including Princess Basma Hospital, Jerash Hospital, Zarqa Governmental Hospital, Al-Nadeem Hospital in Madaba, Karak Governmental Hospital.

The ministry has also partnered with 20 medical laboratories to work on PCR tests under the ministry’s supervision.

By the end of the week, the ministry will open new laboratories at different hospitals across the Kingdom, he announced.

Jaber stressed that the coronavirus testing kits used by the ministry are the latest and most accurate option, and all the equipment used is extremely accurate and leaves no room for error.