AMMAN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Jordan announced that it will impose a comprehensive curfew on Fridays until the end of 2020 and tighten restrictions on the public and business.
At a press conference in capital Amman on Tuesday, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said business sectors would be allowed to open until 10:00 p.m. local time, and the public can move freely until 11:00 p.m., after which all movement will be banned until 6:00 a.m. in a bid to curb the surge of coronavirus cases.
The decision will start on Oct. 24, it said.
"We studied imposing lockdown for a long period, but the economic consequences will be very tough and will result in shutting many businesses. Thus we resorted to these simpler and efficient measures," the prime minister said.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Media Affairs Ali Ayed urged the public to abide by health instructions.
He said the authorities would enforce all laws on the public and businesses to ensure full abidance by the instructions.
On Tuesday, Jordan reported 34 new COVID-19 deaths and 2,035 coronavirus cases, bringing the tally to 40,972, with 414 deaths, according to a statement of the Jordanian Health Ministry. Enditem
