Jordanian Army Isolates Amman to Combat Coronavirus Pandemic

The Jordanian army isolated the capital, Amman, from the rest of the country, as it imposed a closure on its 10 million population in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said that "the next might be more difficult."

It’s noteworthy that the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19, statistics across the world are as follow: 

• The total injured: 241,908
• Total recoverers: 86,690
• The deaths: 9,989

Military checkpoints at the main entrances to the capital of Amman began to impose a ban that only allowed entry for vehicles transporting basic commodities, or inpiduals with a permit to operate from other provinces.

"These measures are aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus virus," army spokesman Brigadier General Mokhles Mofleh told official media.

The government has not yet announced a formal curfew, but it has asked residents to stay in and leave only if necessary, and security forces have threatened prison violators with imprisonment.

On Tuesday, the Jordanian monarch, King Abdullah II, approved a state of emergency that granted Razzaz wider powers, hours after the army began deploying on major highways leading to the capital and large cities across the kingdom.

Officials said the law, which is applied in times of war and disaster, is necessary to allow the opportunity to make important decisions, such as a curfew and the deployment of the army in cities.

Jordan closed its land and sea borders with Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Israel, and suspended all incoming and outgoing flights since Tuesday except for commercial and air transport.

Most stores closed their doors on Wednesday, ahead of a government decision to close shopping centers and stores, with the exception of grocery stores and pharmacies, and later the police closed stores that did not comply with the government's decision.

Health Minister Saad Jaber said he expects the number of confirmed cases of the virus to rise from the current number, which is 56, before the virus containment procedures came into effect.

Jordan imposed a quarantine on more than 5 thousand people, who recently arrived from abroad.

The measures taken in the past days included closing schools, stopping public transportation and praying in mosques, and urging public and private sector employees to stay at home.