Friday violations 'not justified': Al-Ayed

Jordan

Published: 2021-01-16 15:43

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 08:54


Friday violations 'not justified': Al-Ayed
Friday violations 'not justified': Al-Ayed

Saturday, a press briefing was held by various ministers to assess the extent to which citizens have continued to adhere to remaining precautionary measures amid the recent lifting of certain COVID-19 restrictions in the Kingdom.

Many expressed frustration with the lack of compliance. 

The Minister of State for Media Affairs Ali Al-Ayed; the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef Al-Fayez; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Maha Al-Ali; the Minister of Interior Sameer Mobaideen; the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Mohammed Al-Khalaileh; the Minister of Health Nathir Obeidat; and the Minister of Labor and Investment Affairs Maen Al Qatamin were all in attendance.

"The violations that occurred on Friday are not justified," said Al-Ayed, adding that the state of recklessness may lead "us back to tightening measures against COVID-19."

Friday, Downtown Amman saw extreme overcrowding, resulting in several defense order citations. 

Al-Ayed said that the recent decrease in infections and deaths due to COVID-19 does not mean that the pandemic has ended.

In light of the recklessness, Mobaideen said that security campaigns will be intensifying in various regions of the Kingdom, adding that the compliance with safety and health prevention measures affects the plan to open sectors.

"We will not tolerate and will not allow the safety of Jordanians and society to be exposed to any risks," Mobaideen added.

Al-Qatamin said that the adherence to measures in confronting the pandemic is necessary to continue opening sectors and operating facilities, adding that the Labor sector is one of the few sectors which has severely suffered from reduced working hours.

"We do not want to return to that," he added.

The scenes of crowding and gatherings that we witnessed on Friday are "worrying and a very dangerous sign," Qatamin said.

Al-Khalaileh stressed that Jordanian mosques must remain a beacon of security and safety, saying "We do not want them as hotspots for transmitting COVID-19."

"We hope that we will not return to closing the mosques and praying in our homes," Al-Khalaileh said.

Obeidat denounced the clear abuses and the lack of commitment to wearing face masks which was witnessed Friday.
"Despite the improvement of the health situation in Jordan, we are still in the stage of societal spread."

He added that vaccinations do not give the excuse to Jordanians and citizens to not comply with the health measures, adding that the vaccination program should be "an additional incentive for commitment."

Wednesday, authorities announced the abolition of Friday lockdown, which had been in effect since October, in addition to the gradual reopening of schools, gyms, and pools, in February.