Jordanian authorities will not be lenient with those who do not comply with lockdown measures and those who break the rules will be detained, said the Minister of State for Media Affairs of the caretaker government, Amjad al-Adaileh, on Wednesday.

A minimum number of permits will be issued for employees of certain sectors to continue working during the total lockdown on Friday and Saturday, he added.

Airport taxis have been excluded from the 48-hour total lockdown, said Adaileh.

"The ideal decisions are extremely difficult and the decision to impose a total lockdown is painful," he said.