AMMAN — The Public Security Directorate (PSD) on Tuesday said that it will monitor and enforce all government decisions regarding the response plan for COVID-19 and that it will employ “all available means without compromise”, including “appropriate force” to carry out decisions aimed at protecting the public.

 

The PSD noted in its statement that strict instructions and orders were issued to all of its units and departments, the General Directorate of Gendarmerie and the Civil Defence Directorate to begin enforcing all decisions issued by the government.

 

The statement added that these departments will implement government decisions including its ban on gatherings of more than 10 people, movement between governorates and cities and leaving homes except for “extreme emergencies”.

 

The PSD stressed its confidence in the public’s awareness and commitment to adhering to the measures.

 

Minister of Interior Salameh Hammad also issued instructions on Tuesday to minimise the number of active working public service employees to ensure public safety and the continuation of necessary services, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

Hammad urged citizens not to leave their homes except in emergency cases, calling on all to abide by the government’s procedures.

 

During a media briefing at the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management, Hammad said: “I hope no citizens leave their houses except in the case of extreme emergencies. There will be supervision, but we will not prevent those who have to go out to buy medicine from going, for example, or those who need to take a patient to a hospital, but I hope everyone commits to the instructions.”

 

The minister also pointed to a number of violations against some of the decisions the Cabinet took to address the coronavirus, such as serving of shisha and opening of public pools despite the ban.

 

In this regard, he said that the decisions are aimed at maintaining public health and “we will not be lenient with anyone who intentionally causes harm to citizens”.

 

“All measures that can be taken have been taken and we hope to see results soon that will satisfy all,” Hammad added.

 

Answering a question about the fact that some citizens still pray at mosques, the minister said that the awqaf minister assured citizens that they are allowed to pray at home under Sharia (Islamic law).

 

The State Security Court on Tuesday decided to release 1,500 detainees who were being detained for misdemeanors.

 

President of the court Col. Military Judge Ali Mbaideen told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the court’s decision came in line with the government’s decisions to intensify its efforts to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus and according to what the court deemed to be in the public interest.