Jordan Gradually Returns to Normal Life

FILE PHOTO: Jordanian police officers stand guard as a man waits to get bread in a closed-down part of Al-Nasr area, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Amman, Jordan, April 15, 2020. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
FILE PHOTO: Jordanian police officers stand guard as a man waits to get bread in a closed-down part of Al-Nasr area, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Amman, Jordan, April 15, 2020. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
TT

Jordan Gradually Returns to Normal Life

FILE PHOTO: Jordanian police officers stand guard as a man waits to get bread in a closed-down part of Al-Nasr area, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Amman, Jordan, April 15, 2020. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
FILE PHOTO: Jordanian police officers stand guard as a man waits to get bread in a closed-down part of Al-Nasr area, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Amman, Jordan, April 15, 2020. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

Normal life is gradually returning to Jordan, after a total lockdown in Amman and the Irbid governorate resulted in zero new infections.

The Jordanian government announced on Monday that it would allow private vehicles to circulate on the basis of odd and even numbers, after lifting restrictions on movement and work in different sectors.

The government also allowed the resumption of activities in the public transport at a rate not exceeding 50 percent of the sector’s capacity, according to statements by Information Minister Amjad Al-Adayleh.

The National Committee for Epidemics showed more flexibility in dealing with the curfew hours in the country, allowing the return of work to individual occupations and small businesses.

Meanwhile, Minister of Industry and Trade Tareq Al-Hamouri said that activities at the industrial sector could resume at 100 percent of production capacity.

The commercial sector, for its part, expressed surprise at a government decision to maintain the closure of basic service sectors.

Public criticism of the restriction measures in the country is mounting as only 95 cases are still under treatment out of 449 infections recorded in the country.

Life returned to normal in previously isolated areas, especially in the northern Irbid governorate.

The government announced on Monday the closure of the public sector, schools, and universities until the end of the month of Ramadan.

Markets started witnessing an active movement after the reopening of multiple sectors, including restaurants, clothing stores, and a number of direct sales sectors such as mobile phones stores and building materials.



White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release

Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
TT

White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release

Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

The Biden administration is urging Hamas to sign on to a new ceasefire deal that would ensure the release of hostages, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday.

Kirby said the White House welcomed Israel's decision to send another team to Doha to continue negotiations.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release for a year with no success and are making another push this month before Donald Trump's inauguration.
Ceasefire efforts have continually stumbled on a fundamental disagreement over how to end the conflict. Hamas says it will accept an agreement and release the hostages only if Israel commits to ending the war. Israel says it will agree to stop fighting only once Hamas is destroyed.

On Friday, Hamas said it wanted "a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip" and the return of displaced people to their homes in all areas of the enclave.

US President Joe Biden has repeatedly called for a ceasefire agreement. Trump has said that if there is not a deal to release the hostages before his inauguration, "all hell is going to break out.”