AMMAN — There are positive indicators about the epidemiological situation in the Kingdom and stability in the number of registered COVID-19 cases, Health Minister Nathir Obeidat said on Monday.

 

During a press conference held at the Prime Ministry to acquaint the public with the latest developments relating to the COVID-19 crisis and the government measures to deal with it, Obeidat stressed that the occupancy rates of virus patients stand at an “acceptable level”, urging all to work together to reduce the number of infections.

 

He also said that the ministry had signed a contract with a specialised company to build three field hospitals to deal with the crisis, assuring Jordanians that “there are no negative developments” in the epidemiological situation in the Kingdom over the past week.

 

Also speaking at the press briefing, Wael Hayajneh, secretary general of the Health Ministry for epidemiological affairs and the official in charge of the COVID-19 crisis, said that 85,609 patients have recovered from the virus in Jordan.

 

Hayajneh also noted that the number of active cases in the Kingdom stands at 62,087 as of November 2.

 

He added that the occupancy rate of normal beds at hospitals stand between 43 and 45 per cent, while the rate ranges between 53 and 54 per cent for ICU beds and 30 to 31 per cent for ventilators, noting that the government is scheduled to increase the number of these beds.

 

The secretary general also said that the government has signed contracts to buy 10 per cent of the Kingdom’s needs of COVID-19 vaccines and signed a contract with another company to buy at least 5 per cent of a potential vaccine that should be preserved at -70°C to -80°C, and the company pledged to provide it preserved during its 15-day validity.

 

In this regard, Hayajneh said that priority of vaccines will be given to frontline healthcare workers.

 

He also said that the government is committed to offering virus treatment for citizens at private hospitals for free if their admission goes through the Health Ministry.