The Amman Magistrates Court heard a total of 43 witnesses in the oxygen depletion case at Al-Hussein Salt New Hospital, which were presented by the Public Prosecution over the course of 25 sessions.

Thursday, the court held another public session headed by Judge Odai al-Fraihat during which two witnesses were heard, one of whom was the director of Al-Hussein Salt New Hospital, who took over one day after the incident happened.

In his testimony, he said that after the oxygen supply shortage incident, everyone in the hospital started monitoring the oxygen supply at the hospital. He pointed out that there was a total of 159 coronavirus patients receiving treatment at Al-Hussein Salt New Hospital at the time of the incident, 25 of whom were in need of intermediate care and seven were in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

He noted that 12 nurses were supervising patients the day before the incident and 18 nurses on the day the incident took place.

He added that according to international standards, every six to eight patients need one or two nurses in normal circumstances. However, in intensive care units, each nurse shoud care for a maximum of two patients.

He pointed out that, based on that information, the number of nursing staff working on that day was 'insufficient.'

He said that the Medical Gases Committee at the hospital consists of three people, all of whom have to be present every time the oxygen tanks need to be refilled and submit a report on afterwards. He added that the hospital is yet to obtain an international accreditation certificate.

The court, Public Prosecution and defense attorneys asked the two witnesses a few questions and decided to adjourn the session to next Sunday, during which they will hear the testimonies of four forensic medicine doctors.

During upcoming sessions, the court will hear the testimonies of nine experts.

March 13, a technical defect in the Al-Hussein New Salt Hospital caused patients in the ICU to be cut off from oxygen, which led to the death of seven Jordanians and outrage in the Kingdom.