AMMAN — Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Maha Al Ali on Monday instructed market inspectors across the Kingdom to intensify monitoring of shops and bakeries to ensure adherence to public health measures, especially in light of expected inclement weather conditions.

 

The minister called on businesses to ensure physical distancing, compliance to face mask mandate and commitment to safety measures.

 

Basic commodities are available “in large quantities”, Ali said, noting that there is no need for panic buying. 

 

She instructed mills and bakeries to increase their supply of flour and continue working amid expected extreme weather conditions.

 

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Water Authority of Jordan Ahmad Oleimat urged the public to take necessary precautions, including protecting their water meters from frost.

 

He said that the authority and its affiliated companies have dispatched personnel to deal with any incidents during expected weather conditions, noting that emergency maintenance teams will be on stand-by to maintain sewage and water networks.

 

Oleimat called on the public to contact the unified phone number, 117116 in case of an emergency. 

 

Also on Monday, the Public Works and Housing Ministry announced a state of emergency in light of expected weather conditions from Tuesday night until Thursday morning.

 

The ministry, in a statement, said that it has mobilised 94 emergency teams along with 400 machinery rented from the private sector, noting that they will work round-the-clock.

 

The ministry also called on the public not to leave their homes and report emergencies by contacting the main operations centre at the ministry headquarters or governorate operations centres.

 

The ministry urged the public to report any emergencies via the following hotlines: Main operation room (065850111),

 

Amman (0780377291), Irbid (0780377273),

 

Balqa (0780377413),

 

Zarqa (0780377125),

 

Tafileh (0780377160),

 

Aqaba (0780377351),

 

Karak (0780377231),

 

Mafraq (0780377389),

 

Jerash (0780377187),

 

Ajloun (0780377324),

 

Madaba (0780377366),

 

Maan (0780377338)

 

and Petra (0780377154).

 

A cold air mass is forecast to grip the Kingdom as of Tuesday night until Wednesday morning, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD).

 

The cold air mass is expected to bring snowfall in areas 800-900 kilometres above sea level.

 

The weather conditions are also forecast to bring strong gust of wind, with the speed ranging between 60 and 80 kilometres per hour in some areas, the JMD said, noting that thunderstorms and heavy rain are likely to prevail on Wednesday.