Adviser to the Prime Minister for Health Affairs, responsible for the coronavirus file, Adel Belbisi, confirmed Tuesday that 33 percent of new COVID-19 cases recorded daily in Jordan are caused by the Omicron variant.

Belbisi revealed that the Ministry of Health will change health protocols to deal with the increase in the number of cases.

He also said that the ministry is set to take a decision Thursday to reduce the period of isolation to seven days for people infected with COVID-19 but do not show symptoms and 10 days for those who show symptoms.

Monday, a member of the Epidemics Committee Bassam Hijjawi confirmed that failure to adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures contributes to the spread of the Omicron variant.

Hijjawi told Roya that there has been a noticeable increase in the percentage of positive PCR test results during the past two days.

He indicated that Jordan may be at the beginning of a new COVID-19 wave, which requires adherence to preventive measures and receiving the coronavirus vaccine.

Hijjawi confirmed that the Delta variant is still prevalent in Jordan.

He pointed out that the percentage of infection with the Omicron variant reached 15 percent last week, noting that it is expected to rise.

Hijjawi lastly stressed that in Jordan we are still at the beginning of the Omicron wave.

Dec. 10, Jordan announced the registration of the first two cases of the Omicron variant.