• A municipal policeman orders people to evacuate the corniche, or waterfront promenade, along the Mediterranean Sea, as the country's top security council and the government were meeting over the spread of coronavirus, in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo
    A municipal policeman orders people to evacuate the corniche, or waterfront promenade, along the Mediterranean Sea, as the country's top security council and the government were meeting over the spread of coronavirus, in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo
  • A bus driver wearing a mask as a means of protection against the cononavirus Covid-19, speaks to passengers in the northeastern Syrian Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli. AFP
    A bus driver wearing a mask as a means of protection against the cononavirus Covid-19, speaks to passengers in the northeastern Syrian Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli. AFP
  • A medical staff member in protective gear prepares to check the temperature of a cleric man amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, at Najaf airport in the holy city of Najaf upon his arrival from Iran, Iraq. REUTERS
    A medical staff member in protective gear prepares to check the temperature of a cleric man amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, at Najaf airport in the holy city of Najaf upon his arrival from Iran, Iraq. REUTERS
  • A picture shows extra beds set up in tents in the yard of a Red Crescent Society building hosting a hospital opened by the governor of Hebron and equipped with modern appliances, to receive patients affected by the coronavirus Covid-19 in the village of Halhul, near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. AFP
    A picture shows extra beds set up in tents in the yard of a Red Crescent Society building hosting a hospital opened by the governor of Hebron and equipped with modern appliances, to receive patients affected by the coronavirus Covid-19 in the village of Halhul, near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. AFP
  • A Palestinian student follows through his mobile telephone from his home, a lesson broadcast by a teacher from an educational radio station, during his isolation period in a bid to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, in Gaza City. AFP
    A Palestinian student follows through his mobile telephone from his home, a lesson broadcast by a teacher from an educational radio station, during his isolation period in a bid to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, in Gaza City. AFP
  • A pedestrian wears a protective face mask while walking in central Tehran, Iran. Bloomberg
    A pedestrian wears a protective face mask while walking in central Tehran, Iran. Bloomberg
  • A municipal policeman, left, orders fishermen to leave the corniche, or waterfront promenade, along the Mediterranean Sea, as the country's top security council and the government were meeting over the spread of coronavirus, in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo
    A municipal policeman, left, orders fishermen to leave the corniche, or waterfront promenade, along the Mediterranean Sea, as the country's top security council and the government were meeting over the spread of coronavirus, in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo
  • Turkish citizens wearing protective face masks sit in a bus as they are repatriated from the "umrah" pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, prior to being placed in quarantine as part of measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus in Ankara. AFP
    Turkish citizens wearing protective face masks sit in a bus as they are repatriated from the "umrah" pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, prior to being placed in quarantine as part of measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus in Ankara. AFP
  • Buses carry Turkish citizens who returned from Saudi Arabia for Umrah pilgrimage, to place in dormitories to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, as part of quarantine measures, in Ankara, Turkey. EPA
    Buses carry Turkish citizens who returned from Saudi Arabia for Umrah pilgrimage, to place in dormitories to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, as part of quarantine measures, in Ankara, Turkey. EPA
  • A Palestinian teacer broadcasts a lessen from an educational radio station, in order for students to follow through their mobile telephones at home, during their isolation period in a bid to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, in Gaza City. AFP
    A Palestinian teacer broadcasts a lessen from an educational radio station, in order for students to follow through their mobile telephones at home, during their isolation period in a bid to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, in Gaza City. AFP
  • A medical staff member in protective gear checks the temperature of a girl amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, at Najaf airport in the holy city of Najaf upon his arrival from Iran, Iraq. REUTERS
    A medical staff member in protective gear checks the temperature of a girl amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, at Najaf airport in the holy city of Najaf upon his arrival from Iran, Iraq. REUTERS
  • A woman wearing a mask as a means of protection against the cononavirus Covid-19, gazes out of a car window in the northeastern Syrian Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli. AFP
    A woman wearing a mask as a means of protection against the cononavirus Covid-19, gazes out of a car window in the northeastern Syrian Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli. AFP
  • A worker arranges goods on an empty shelve in a mall amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, in Amman Jordan. REUTERS
    A worker arranges goods on an empty shelve in a mall amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, in Amman Jordan. REUTERS
  • A cashier wearing a face mask amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread works at a mall in Amman, Jordan.REUTERS
    A cashier wearing a face mask amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread works at a mall in Amman, Jordan.REUTERS
  • Egyptian Coptic priest Sawirs Marcos Saiwirs reads government instructions on preventing the spread of coronavirus during Sunday mass at Archangel Michael Church in Cairo, Egypt. REUTERS
    Egyptian Coptic priest Sawirs Marcos Saiwirs reads government instructions on preventing the spread of coronavirus during Sunday mass at Archangel Michael Church in Cairo, Egypt. REUTERS
  • Pedestrians walk in front of a closed sidewalk cafe in the centre of the Tunisian capital Tunis after the government's decision to shut down bars, cafes and restaurants in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19. AFP
    Pedestrians walk in front of a closed sidewalk cafe in the centre of the Tunisian capital Tunis after the government's decision to shut down bars, cafes and restaurants in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19. AFP
  • Shops remain closed in the centre of the Tunisian capital Tunis after the government's decision to shut down bars, cafes and restaurants in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19. AFP
    Shops remain closed in the centre of the Tunisian capital Tunis after the government's decision to shut down bars, cafes and restaurants in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19. AFP
  • A man with a motorcycle helmet covers his face with a mask, as he watches municipal policemen order people to leave the corniche, or waterfront promenade, along the Mediterranean Sea, as the country's top security council and the government were meeting over the spread of coronavirus, in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo
    A man with a motorcycle helmet covers his face with a mask, as he watches municipal policemen order people to leave the corniche, or waterfront promenade, along the Mediterranean Sea, as the country's top security council and the government were meeting over the spread of coronavirus, in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo

Jordanian prime minister tells public not to panic-buy over coronavirus

King Abdullah chaired a meeting on Sunday night to discuss government measures saying there must be a clear plan for strategic reserves in case of disruption to trade

The National

March 16, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Monday evening urged the public to stop panic buying food, saying that the kingdom had sufficient supplies of goods and medicines amid growing concern over the spread of coronavirus.

Energy Minister Hala Zawati also said that the country has sufficient supplies of various types of fuel and they had petrol and diesel stocks to last 60 days, while stocks of aircraft fuel and heavy fuel for shipping was sufficient for three months demand. The minister added that the government is in constant contact with local suppliers to ensure that reserves remain.

Jordan has confirmed seven cases of the virus, including one Jordanian national returning from the UK. Mr Razzaz said that no recorded cases of the virus had been due to local spread rather all patients had come from abroad.

King Abdullah on Sunday evening chaired a meeting of senior officials to discuss the latest measures in the country to fight the global spread. He said that the country needs a clear plan on strategic reserves in case of disruption to international trade due to border closures.

He said that he has confidence in public awareness but urged people to stay away from busy spaces as the best prevention practice.

King Abdullah called for the government to make sure there was all the needed medical equipment and detection kits to test for coronavirus, officially called Covid-19, but said that continuing to provide medical and education services was a priority.

On education, the king said the ministry needs to evaluate e-learning tools so that classes could continue uninterrupted.

Mr Razzaz, who attended the meeting, also said that the Cabinet task force on crisis management was ensuring strict monitoring on border crossings, had closed schools and universities as well as some public institutions and private companies but was also working to support firms hit by the closures.

As of Tuesday, Jordan will be closing airports to all traffic bar freight.

The Interior Ministry said it was taking measures to provide health care in Syrian refugee camps in the country to ensure that the virus doesn't spread in the densely populated settlements. The ministry's refugee affairs department said it had quarantined the camps preventing anyone entering and leaving and banning public gatherings.

Meanwhile, the military denied reports on social media that it was planning to use army helicopters to spray disinfectant. The Jordanian Armed Forces said the reports were “baseless and unfounded and urged the public to seek information from official and authorised sources”.

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