Government announces three-phase plan to return to pre-coronavirus normalcy

Jordan

Published: 2021-05-26 18:22

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 14:19


Government announces three-phase plan to return to pre-coronavirus normalcy
Government announces three-phase plan to return to pre-coronavirus normalcy

Wednesday, a press briefing was held at the Prime Ministry to announce the procedures put in place in order to reach a 'safe summer' in Jordan, in light of the COVID-19 situation in the Kingdom.

The Minister of State for Media Affairs Sakher Dudin said the government will start reopening closed sectors starting Tuesday.

He said that the plan to reach a safe summer is divided into three phases, the first of which will begin on June 1 and includes the gradual reopening of sectors, including gyms, reallowing some activities and updating procedures regarding the entry of people arriving to Jordan.

The second phase will start July 1, which will include the reduction of curfew hours among other measures to stimulate tourism especially in the Golden Triangle.

This phase also includes the full return of public sector employees to work, and the beginning of the return of in-person education for higher education colleges, which will be determined at a later date by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The third phase will start Sep. 1, through which the government hopes to abolish all restrictions with the aim of returning to normalcy.

Additionally, in-person education in schools and universities will be restored, and most sectors and activities will be allowed to operate at all times and at full capacity.

Dudin stressed that all these measures within this plan are subject to periodic reviews in light of the COVID-19 situation and progress of the national vaccination campaign.

The implementation of these phases will include the issuance of defence orders necessary to implement them, stressing that the government will remain transparent throughout.

The Minister of Health, Feras al-Hawari said the COVID-19 situation witnessed remarkable improvement which contributed to the stabilization of the pandemic over a period of two weeks.

He continued saying that there are three indicators of improvement which is the way the virus spreads, the PCR positivity rates and the decrease in hospital occupancy rates.

In terms of COVID-19 vaccination for teachers, he noted that more than 85,000 teachers have been inoculated with the aim of returning to in-person education.

Hawari stressed that the ministry continues to prepare for another wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

He pointed out that Jordan has secured more than 11.5 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, adding that the ministry aims to vaccinate 100,000 people per day.

The Minister of Interior Mazen Faraya reiterated the government's intention to reduce curfew hours with the aim of complete abolition by Sep. 1.

Roaming permits will be directly linked with COVID-19 vaccination, he said.

Faraya stressed that Jordanian citizens must report any violation detected to the relevant authorities. He noted that union elections will be allowed to take place starting Aug. 1.

Visitors arriving to the Kingdom from abroad will be required to register on the Visit Jordan platform to provide vaccination and PCR certificates, as well as acquiring a QR code to allow inspection teams to verify individuals through the 'Sanad' app.

The Sanad mobile application will be used by COVID-19 inspection teams to determine whether or not individuals have been vaccinated, and to verify PCR test results.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Maha Al-Ali confirmed that the government will allow cafes to serve shisha starting June 15, stressing that conditions apply.

Ali explained that industrial and tourism establishments will be allowed to work outside curfew hours at full capacity, provided their employees have been vaccinated.

She noted that a number of closed sectors will be reopened as of Tuesday, which falls on June 1.