Shams El Balad restaurant has been shut down due to the coronavirus crisis and the new safety measures announced by the Jordanian government on Tuesday, which included a total lockdown in Jordan for a period of 48 hours every Friday and Saturday, starting from October 9, at 12 am and until further notice.

“Due to the newly announced weekend lockdowns and the ever concerning health and safety situation, we have made the very painful decision to shut down our restaurant completely, effective immediately and until further notice,” the restaurant wrote on their Facebook page.

Shams El Balad is a local restaurant in Amman, which is inspired by Jordanian heritage and culture. Over the past five years, the restaurant focused on local sourcing and sustainability.

“We thank you dearly for your continued support over the past five years, and especially for your trust over the past months while we did our very best to navigate this time of great uncertainty,” they added.

COVID-19 has caused restaurant owners to face daily losses of JD 2 to 3 million, according to Amman Chamber of Commerce.