A total of 40 establishments were fined and shut down for serving Shisha Tuesday, 38 of which are cafes located in Amman. One was located in Aqaba and the other in Jerash.

Serving shisha during the pandemic is a clear violation of defense orders as well as public health and safety measures, officials noted.

The governors of Amman, Aqaba and Jerash pointed out that specialized committees and security officers continue to conduct inspections across the Kingdom. They added that the necessary legal and administrative action have been taken against those who violate defense laws.

Establishments who violate defense laws in such a way are being shut down and their owners are being arrested. Local authorities reiterated the need to abide by precautionary health measures.

Last week, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef al-Fayez said reallowing shisha is not a priority. He added that they will only allow serving shisha when the COVID-19 situation in the Kingdom is ‘comfortable.’

Also Read: Reallowing shisha is not a priority: Tourism Minister

Earlier this month, the Jordan Association for Restaurants and Sweets Shops Owners said that restaurants and cafes should be permitted to serve shisha again immediately. The head of the syndicate, Omar Al-Awwad, said that the shisha sector at the present time is not only the most affected sector, but also the poorest sector.

Nov. 17, Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh announced that restaurants and cafes will no longer be permitted to serve shisha in light of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Also Read: Restaurant syndicate says shisha ban should be revoked immediately