The country of Jordan has implemented one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. Its response to the virus is seen harsh as Jordanian health officials urge for patience and optimism as the only ways to put an end to this crisis.
Jordan is one of the few countries that met the unwelcomed visitor later than expected in comparison with other neighboring nations. On March 2, the first case of coronavirus emerged in the capital of Jordan, Amman. People were distraught, never thinking it would be this close to home. The man who tested positive for COVID-19 is an employee at Carrefour, one of the largest supermarkets in the capital. He was immediately transferred to a governmental hospital to spend a mandatory 14 days quarantine and everyone he got in contact with was tracked down and tested.
Shortly after, new cases started appearing which led the government to take rigorous actions and impose a nationwide lockdown and implement martial law. All educational institutions were ordered to transition to online learning and prayers at mosques and churches were halted as people were advised to pray at home. Public gatherings got banned where residents were required to avoid all social outings, including weddings and funerals. Anyone who violates the law would face the Jordanian army which would unlikely show any tolerance. Legal consequences can go up to an immediate one-year imprisonment and about $140 fine.
As part of the emergency measures, the army of Jordan closed off Amman to restrict any local travel between provinces which put more than 10 million people on lockdown as a result. In addition, before closing off Jordan’s main airport on March 16th, government officials announced that everyone entering the country would be required to spend 14 days in quarantine in four to five-star hotels located at the Dead Sea and the capital which expenses would be paid for by the government. In addition, Jordan closed all land and sea borders with its neighboring countries and suspended all incoming and outgoing flights in Queen Alia International Airport until further notice.
Dr. Saad Jaber, the Anthony Fauci of Jordan, became the hope for many Jordanians as they anticipate seeing him on local channels like Al Mamlakah TV and Roya at 8 p.m. every day. He deluged the nation with his humility and confidence while dealing with this pandemic. Jaber became a symbol of resilience and courage due to his assuring tone and factual statements.
“I was a military man and a soldier before becoming a minister,” Jaber told his nationwide audience as he urged them to comply with the lockdown. “The military is used to giving orders and not asking for favors. Now, I beg you not to fail us and our efforts to save you.”
https://twitter.com/AlMamlakaTV/status/1242884258085113857
While Jordanians were worried about basic food and life necessities, the government initially proposed delivering food like bread on gas trucks, however, that didn’t go as planned. People were so worried the bread would run out and proceeded to the trucks with negligence to the necessary health guidelines. Realizing their plan had failed, officials later eased the lockdown and implemented a new curfew starting from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. in which residents would be able to get their own supplies from nearby minimarkets only on foot. Any vehicle usage was strictly prohibited and only those with permits like health care workers and media personnel were allowed to drive. In addition, the government allowed local third-party delivery services to deal with delivering goods to residents to lessen activity outside.
Every day at 6 p.m. sirens echo around the country announcing the curfew, which remains in place until 10 a.m. the next morning.
AMJAD TADROS, CBS News.
In addition, the government of Jordan set up a public fund called “Hemet Watan” for all hourly workers without contracts or salaries to ease their financial hardships in which about 59% of them are currently with no steady income.
There are no set perimeters for when will the lockdown and the curfew would be over because positive cases are still increasing, but the health minister, Dr. Saad Jaber, wishes this crisis will end by June. “I hope that life would return to normal as of the mid of Ramadan,” he announced during his press briefing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekbLirPXNjo
For more information about the coronavirus situation in Jordan, check out King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussien, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, Dr. Saad Jaber, the official Embassy of Jordan and The Royal Hashemite Court’s Twitter accounts.
