A worker sterilizes a car in downtown Amman, Jordan, March 22, 2020. A curfew that Jordan started on Saturday to combat COVID-19 might be extended for weeks, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said on Sunday. Health Minister Saad Jaber said 13 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Sunday, bringing the overall number of cases to 112 in the country. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua)
AMMAN, March 22 (Xinhua) -- A curfew that Jordan started on Saturday to combat COVID-19 might be extended for weeks, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said on Sunday.
The government is looking into mechanisms to deliver basic needs to citizens as they will not be allowed to go to markets, said the minister, adding that citizens need to get used to the new lifestyle under the curfew as there is a possibility it will last for weeks, the minister said in a statement.
"The next two weeks are crucial to control the spread of the virus and thus the curfew might be extended...Unfortunately, the number of those who violated the curfew reached 700 on March 22," said the minister.
"We will be firm in dealing with any violation of the curfew...We need to learn lessons from countries that lost control over the disease because of the carelessness," said Adaileh.
Health Minister Saad Jaber said 13 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Sunday, bringing the overall number of cases to 112 in the country.
One of the patients is a woman in her 80s, said the minister, adding that she is in a moderate to critical condition.
He added that a Royal Jordanian jet will head to Singapore on March 23 to bring about 21,000 medical chips for conducting tests for detecting coronavirus.
"The rest of the patients in Jordan of coronavirus are in excellent medical condition," he added.
