Emergence of coronavirus crisis in Jordan 2020

Coronavirus appeared for the first time in the world at the end of 2019 in China, specifically in the Wuhan region, then it spread worldwide, announcing a new phase of life for all of humanity.

Jordan was not immune to the pandemic, and announced the registration of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries. COVID-19 imposed new habits on Jordanians, and changed their lifestyle and behaviors.

Jan. 31, 2020: A Jordanian plane arrives in Wuhan to return Jordanian students back to the Kingdom.

Immediately after announcing the spread of the virus in China, the Jordanian government took several proactive measures to avoid the virus from reaching its lands; the beginning of which was to send a Jordanian plane to return Jordanian students stranded in Wuhan, China, wherein COVID-19 was born.

Mar. 2, 2020: The first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Jordan.

Almost four months after the onset of the disease in the world, the first confirmed case of the virus was recorded in Jordan on Mar. 2, 2020, when the former Minister of Health Saad Jaber announced during a press conference that an infected 30-year-old Jordanian named Muhammad al-Hayari showed symptoms of the virus 14 days later following his return to Jordan from Italy, and he and his family members were quarantined to conduct tests and it was found that he had the disease.

Mar. 13, 2020: Al-Hayari announced that he is COVID-19 free.

On Mar 13, 2020, the former Minister of Health Saad Jaber, announced that Jordan is free of the coronavirus, after the recovery of the only patient Al-Hayari.

Mar. 14, 2020: Study suspensions and flight suspensions.

Mar. 14, 2020, the government announced measures to deal with the pandemic, including:

• Suspending all flights
• Stopping face-to-face learning in schools and universities
• Stopping prayer in all mosques and churches in the Kingdom
• Stopping all public events and gatherings, and instructing citizens not to gather at social events, including funeral homes and weddings
• Stopping visits to hospitals and prisons from Mar. 15 until further notice
• Closing archaeological tourist sites for one week to carry out sterilization campaigns
• Suspending sporting events, closing cinemas, swimming pools, sports clubs and youth centers, until further notice
• Prohibiting hookahs and smoking in cafes and restaurants
• Authorizing the responsible official authorities to close any cafe or restaurant that does not abide by instructions

Mar. 15, 2020: New COVID-19 cases are recorded in Jordan.

On Sunday Mar. 15, 2020, the government announced the registration of the first six infections in Jordan after Al-Hayari was infected, including four Frenchmen and two Jordanians who had come into an American tourist who had been in Jordan beforehand. At the end of this day, the number of infections increased to 12, which required Jordan to take more aggressive measures.

Mar. 15, 2020: A Jordanian infected with COVID-19 escaped from hospital quarantine.

Mar. 15, 2020, Jaber appealed to a COVID-19 infected patient who escaped from Prince Hamzah Hospital before entering quarantine to return, saying, "[he] poses a danger to society."

Jaber explained that the person felt a sense of panic and fled, and the personnel present at the time were unable to catch him.

Mar. 16, 2020: Irbid wedding increases COVID-19 infections.

On the morning of Mar. 16, 2020, the number of COVID-19 cases in Jordan increased due to a wedding ceremony, notoriously dubbed the “Irbid wedding”, which was held Mar. 13, 2020. Several infected individuals attended the party, with the father of the bride who came from Spain, believed to be the cause of the virus. Several infections were recorded.

Mar. 17, 2020: Activation of defense laws.

Mar. 17, 2020, King Abdullah II issued a royal decree activating the "Defense Law of 1992", which gives the prime minister broad powers to restrict basic rights. However, former Prime Minister Omar Al-Razzaz pledged to implement it "in the narrowest limits" and stated that it would not affect political rights, freedom of expression, or private property.

Al-Razzaz announced the activation of the law, and the government also announced gathering preventions of more than 10 people, preventing movement between governorates, suspending operations, medical reviews, and patient visitations except in cases of emergency. Additionally, paper newspapers stopped printing, as they contributed to the transmission of infection.

Transportation was suspended while malls and commercial sectors were closed, only allowing grocery stores, supply centers, pharmacies, bakeries, medical institutions, water supplies, fuel stations and electricity providers to remain open.

Mar.19, 2020: Jordanians were quarantined in Amman and the Dead Sea.

Mar. 19, 2020, the government announced that 4,892 Jordanian citizens and residents were quarantined in five-star hotels in the Amman and the Dead Sea region, after the government made sure that some travelers changed their trips from countries classified as banned in order to move in transit through other countries to enter Jordan, which made the government quarantine all those coming from the airport to ensure that they are not infected.

Mar. 20, 2020: The government announced a total lockdown in the country starting Mar. 21, 2020.

The government announced the imposition of a total lockdown Mar. 21, 2020 until further notice, as part of the measures it has taken to confront the coronavirus.

Mar. 21, 2020: The lockdown began throughout Jordan, and the army was deployed around governorates.

A total lockdown came into effect in all parts of Jordan to confront the pandemic, and sirens marked the start of the lockdown. The army was deployed around the Kingdom to implement the restrictions.

Mar. 24, 2020: Distribution of bread to Jordanians via public transport buses.

On Mar. 24, 2020, the government distributed bread to citizens through municipality buses and cars in the governorates.

Mar. 26, 2020: Irbid Governorate is completely isolated from the rest of the Kingdom.

On Mar. 26, 2020, the government announced that the Irbid will be completely isolated from the rest of the Kingdom to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Mar. 28, 2020: The first coronavirus death was recorded in Jordan.

Mar. 28, 2020, the government announced the first death from a COVID-19 infection in Jordan, belonging to an 80-year-old woman.

Apr. 7, 2020: Sobhi's story.

Sobhi is a young Jordanian man who works as an employee in a chain of pharmacies in Jordan whose father died. At the time, Jaber said that the tests for the deceased showed that he had coronavirus, knowing that he had died due to kidney failure. Sobhi worked to bury his father while dozens hugged him in condolences for the death of his father, and later it was found that Sobhi was infected with the virus. Social media ignited his story as an infected person and once more as a violator of the law.

Apr. 16, 2020: Measures were eased in Jordan, and southern governorates would gradually close with Aqaba facing a total lockdown to prevent infection spread.

Apr. 16, 2020, the government announced that they will begin to ease the imposed measures since cases of COVID-19 were not being recorded. The government confirmed that it would gradually close the southern governorates, and isolate the Aqaba governorate from the rest of the Kingdom to prevent the infection from spreading to it.

Apr. 26, 2020: Mafraq was isolated from the rest of Jordan.

Apr. 26, 2020, the government took a decision to isolate Mafraq from the rest of the governorates. Citizens were allowed to move around on foot or by using their vehicles within the Mafraq between 8 am and 6 pm.

Beginning of May: Al-Khanasiri driver in Mafraq tested positive for COVID-19.

At the beginning of the month of May, it was announced that a truck driver had been infected in the Mafraq governorate, known as Al-Khanasiri driver, and caused the infection of a number of residents of the area with the virus.

May 12, 2020: Zarqa is isolated from the rest of Jordan.

May 12, 2020, the government isolated parts of the Zarqa Governorate after it was confirmed that three citizens living in separate neighborhoods in the city were infected with the virus, and the source of the infections were unknown.

Jun. 8, 2020: Jordanians breath a sigh of relief after the lockdown was lifted.

After three months of the total lockdown, Jordanians returned to their normal lives within strict measures to avoid any risks related to the spread of the coronavirus, and the government said at that time that it might resort to imposing another total lockdown if more than 10 local infections were recorded daily in one week.

Jun. 15, 2020: The Ministry of Education announced the return of face-to-face learning in schools.

The Minister of Education, Tayseer Al-Nuaimi, announced the resumption of studies beginning September, after a hiatus of more than five months due to the pandemic.

Aug. 18, 2020: The highest number of coronavirus cases was recorded since the start of the pandemic in Jordan.

Jaber announced that 40 cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Jordan, which came as a surprise to the Kingdom as it was the highest number recorded since the virus was discovered.

Sep. 1, 2020: Two million students return to educational institutions.

Students were joyous as 2,142,000 students returned to educational institutions following a six month absence due to the pandemic. On that day, 3,940 public schools opened their doors to students on their first school day.

Sep. 14, 2020: The government decides to re-close schools, mosques and churches.

Two weeks after schools opened, the Minister of Education Tayseer Al-Nuaimi, announced the suspension of students ’attendance and the shift to remote education for a period of two weeks, starting from Sep. 17, in addition to the closure of mosques, churches, cafes and restaurants, and street markets.

Oct. 7, 2020: Bisher Al-Khasawneh became prime minister.

Five days after accepting the resignation of the Razzaz government, His Majesty King Abdullah II assigned Bisher Al-Khasawneh to form a new government, as His Majesty affirmed in his High Commissioning Letter that the formation of the new government includes competent and distinguished leaders who are able to assume the responsibility entrusted to them.

Oct. 6, 2020: A total lockdown was imposed every Friday and Saturday.

The Director of Coronavirus Crisis Cell, Brigadier General Mazen Al-Faraya, announced the imposition of a total lockdown in all governorates of Jordan, starting at 12 AM on Thursday, for a period of 48 hours, to end at 12 AM on Saturday, to confront the pandemic and limit infection spread.

Nov. 1, 2020: Three field hospitals were announced to be established in Jordan.

The Minister of Health Nathir Obeidat, announced that the government will establish three field hospitals in northern, central and southern Jordan, to confront the pandemic.

Nov. 11, 2020: Jordan recorded the highest number of deaths from COVID-19.

This was a day Jordanians will never forget, as the Ministry of Health announced that Jordan had registered the highest daily death toll from the coronavirus, with 91 cases.

Nov. 18, 2020: Jordan records the highest daily infection toll, with 7,933 cases.

On this day, Jordan recorded the highest daily number of infections, with 7933 cases. A total of 1,623 of the total cases were in one of the factories in the Aqaba Governorate. The government dealt with the factory according to the approved medical protocol, isolating the infected and conducting the necessary checks.