AMMAN — Jordan has
entered the third wave of the
COVID-19 pandemic with a recent surge in
infections ranging between 2,000–3,000 cases per week and up to 5,000 cases
last week, according to Ministry of Health officials, cautioning that the
upcoming weeks will be crucial for the ministry to analyze this new wave’s
outcome and take the necessary measures.
اضافة اعلان
With the recent surge in cases, the ministry
has increased the number of COVID-19 tests conducted nationwide and is tracing
contacts with infected individuals, while keeping a close monitor on hospital
admissions, particularly to intensive care.
Saeed Jaradat, a member of the National Committee for
Epidemiology, said that the two main factors behind the recent surge were the
reopening of the economy, which led to large gatherings and congregations, and
the presence of a “fierce” Delta variant.
Almost all of the recorded cases — 99.9 percent — are
Delta variant cases; a variant characterized by its rapid spread and thus its
ability to infect a large number of people quickly, which “worries us as a
committee”.
Jaradat said measures must be taken to halt the spread
of the virus in order for Jordan not to have to resort to full closures, highlighting
that hospital occupancy rates in intensive care units in the central and
northern regions have reached 40 percent. He stressed the need for the public to continue to adhere to health
protocols, most importantly to get vaccinated.
The majority of recorded cases are from outside
schools, at 70 percent. Only between 30 and 33 percent of cases were recorded
as occurring in schools.
Irbid and Mafraq governorates each recorded 11 percent
of Jordan’s 35,000–40,000 active cases, with an estimated 60 percent of active
cases being considered asymptomatic.
Jaradat said herd immunity may not be a possibility
given the presence of new mutations, but being fully vaccinated continues to be
necessary to provide immunity and reduce the severity of the symptoms. He added
that vaccine turnout continues to be low. The fully vaccinated population
hovers around 36 percent, he said, although certain governorates, such as
Irbid, have a vaccination rate of 24 percent. Aqaba, Amman, and Balqa recorded
the highest turnout for vaccinations.
Head of the Parliamentary Health Committee Ahmed
Al-Sarahneh said there would likely be new measures put in place to halt the
spread of the virus, but excluded the possibility of total closures. “There will be measures to prevent large gatherings
and to restrict the number of attendees at weddings and other social functions,
thus avoiding the need for closures,” he affirmed.
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