Monday, former Minister of Health Walid Al-Maani said that the arrival of the new COVID variant to Jordan is just “a matter of time.”

Maani added that people are exaggerating with their panic over the variant, indicating that the Omicron variant is not much more dangerous than the Delta variant.

He also stressed that the epidemiological situation in the world will not improve before the middle of 2022, expecting that Jordan will reach the peak of the third wave at the end of December and it will continue until the end of January 2022.

He explained, in radio statements, that the intensity of the peak of the third wave will not be the same as it was in the first and second waves.

Maani indicated that public health is more important than in-person education, adding that "nothing will benefit us if the health sector collapses."

He lastly called on the government to vaccinate all school students.

Also Read: No cases of Omicron variant recorded in Jordan: Belbisi

Sunday, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Health Affairs, responsible for the coronavirus file, Adel Belbisi, confirmed that Jordan has not recorded any infection with the Omicron variant.

Belbisi told Roya’s Nabd Albalad that it is too early for the government to take decisive measures regarding the new variant, stressing that the airport and borders will remain open.

Also Read: Jordan announces new restrictions to combat Omicron variant

Earlier Sunday, the National Center for Crisis Management (NCSCM) announced a set of new measures to prevent the entry of the new COVID variant (Omicron) to the Kingdom.

The NCSCM said that the new measures will be imposed on those who visited South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Botswana during the 14 days prior to traveling to the Kingdom.

First: Jordanians and their families are allowed to travel to the Kingdom through Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) but must comply with the following restrictions:

-They must register on www.gateway2jordan.gov.jo.

-Provide a negative PCR test conducted 72 hours prior to travel to the country. This decision excludes children under the age of five.

-Conduct a PCR test at QAIA upon arrival, with the exception of children under the age of five.

-Sign the institutional-quarantine pledge in the airport.

-They must also pre-pay the cost of the institutional-quarantine at the Queen Alia International Airport Hotel (the period of the institutional-quarantine is 14 days, and must be paid in advance).

Second: Non-Jordanians are not allowed to travel to the Kingdom if they have stayed in one of the above-mentioned countries during the 14 days preceding their travel to the Kingdom.

Third: The traveler shall bear the legal responsibility if they provide misleading or false information, in addition to a fine of JD 10,000.