Tuesday, restaurants and cafes returned to serving shisha after nearly seven months of closures. 

The head of the Health Awareness and Information at the Ministry of Health Abeer Muwaswas stressed that serving shisha will only be allowed in outdoor areas.

In an interview with Roya, Muwaswas said that establishments that do not have outdoor areas can either move the café to another place where there is an outdoor area, or build an outdoor space for the café.

She pointed out that there is coordination between the ministry and the competent authorities to facilitate the owners of cafes having outdoor areas.

She said that in case an establishment violates the health restrictions set by the Health Ministry, the ministry has the right to close the violating facility, or impose a fine of JD 1,000-3,000, or imprison the owner for up to six months.

Facilities wishing to re-allow shisha must submit a request to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC), or the Tourism Directorate in their governorate to sign a pledge to abide by the approved health protocols.

Among the conditions announced by the government with the plan to reopen sectors - which begins June 1 in three phases - is that all workers in the facilities must receive a coronavirus vaccine, with 21 days having passed since receiving the first dose.

The facility is allowed to receive customers, provided that they have received a jab, with 21 days having passed since they received the first dose.

Those under 18 years of age, or over the age of 65 are not permitted to smoke shisha.

The government also stipulated that establishments work at a capacity of no more than 50 percent.

Prior to serving customers shisha, the entire shisha must be cleaned inside out with water and soap, and the appropriate disinfection methods must be taken according to public health instructions.

Disposable pipes must only be provided in establishments, with the plastic casing still intact so the customers themselves unpackage it.

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