The head of the Parliamentary Education and Youth Committee, Bilal Al-Momani, called on the Minister of Health, Feras Al-Hawari, to clarify what is related to administering COVID-19 vaccines to school students.

During a meeting of the Parliamentary Health and Environment Committee and the Parliamentary Education and Youth Committee, Momani stressed the need for continuing with in-person education in schools.

Minister of Education and Higher Education Wajih Owais reiterated that the health situation in educational institutions is reassuring, noting that the ministry conducts 2,000 random PCR tests in schools daily.

He said that a total of 183,583 school students received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, while 132,735 are fully vaccinated against the virus. 

Owais stressed that in-person education is the basis of the educational process.

He noted that 95 percent of teachers have received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

In turn, Minister of Health, Feras Al-Hawari, responded to all the rumors, and confirmed that the government did not discuss returning to online learning.

Hawari stressed that receiving the coronavirus vaccine for school students over the age of 12 remains optional.

Earlier Wednesday, the head of the Parliamentary Health and Environment Committee Ahmed Al-Sarahneh said that there are several reasons behind the increase in the number of COVID-19 infections in Jordan, which are the return of students to in-person education, the reopening of sectors and festivals.

In radio statements, Sarahneh stressed that despite the slight increase in coronavirus cases, the epidemiological situation inside schools remains ‘reassuring and under control.’

He pointed out that it was agreed that if the percentage of COVID-19 infections in a school exceeds 10 percent, the school will be shut down.